Skip to content
Advertisement

International Olympic Committee could push LA Games to 2028

Advertisement
 (236029)

The International Olympic Committee took a significant step closer to awarding both the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games later this year, a unique move that could result in Los Angeles hosting its third Olympics, but not in 2024.

The IOC executive board announced that a working group made up of the IOC’s four vice presidents is discussing the Olympic bidding city process, including whether to award both the ‘24 and ‘28 events this September in Lima, Peru. The announcement came last week after a meeting in Pyeongchang, South Korea which included discussion of overhauling the bidding process entirely.

“All options are on the table, and this includes also the `24-’28 procedure and vote”, said IOC president Thomas Bach. We have two excellent candidates from two major Olympic countries. This is a position you like to be in,” he added.

The withdrawal of Budapest earlier this month, brought the number to eight that have pulled out of the process. The IOC is now left with just two candidate cities. Los Angeles replaced Boston as the U.S. candidate city in the fall of 2015. However, Paris has inched closer to the favorite to take the 2024 host date.

Putting on the Games is expensive, and the number has climbed substantially for every city whether it’s for the summer or winter events. “The problem now is different,” said Olympic historian Bill Mallon. “There’s plenty of money at the IOC, but the Games cost too much.”

Bidding alone costs upwards of $50 million. Rome pulled out last year, with its mayor Virginia Raggi calling it “irresponsible” for the city’s finances.

Recently re-elected Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti took the announcement as an opportunity to double down on L.A.’s intention to host.

“We are competing for 2024,” he released in a statement. I would love to visit my friends in Paris in 2028. We have never contemplated anything else.”

It’s expected that IOC members from countries considering bids for the 2028 Games, could provide significant pushback. Toronto, Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia, Casablanca, Morocco, and Johannesburg were expected to be part of the bidding competition for that year.

An official selection is expected at the end of the summer.

Advertisement

Latest