Making their first presentation to the Olympic family, Los Angeles 2024 officials pledged to the 1,000-plus delegates at the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly in Doha, Qatar a “Transformative Games” to guarantee greater sustainability and youth connection for future Games.
Emphasizing that LA 2024’s commitment is not just to hosting an outstanding Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024, but also to ensuring future success and relevancy for the Olympic Movement, Mayor Eric Garcetti said: “We believe our campaign isn’t just about the Games in our city in 2024. We believe this bid is about ensuring that the Games are sustainable and relevant in every year beyond 2024 as well. This bid isn’t only about LA’s future – it’s about our collective future. We are planning a great Games in Los Angeles – make no mistake – but we’re also laying the ground work along with you for future Games. “We know that LA 2024 must not only deliver great Games, they must also deliver transformative Games. And we know that we can help transform the Games because we are a transformative city that reflects creativity and innovation – and because the Olympics are in our DNA.”
Six-time Olympic champion sprinter Allyson Felix stressed why the diversity of America and LA in particular makes the City of Angels perfectly placed to welcome – and benefit from – the world’s greatest celebration of unity in diversity: “I want to tell you about the America that I love, and the America that needs the Games to help make our nation better – now more than ever. America is diverse. We are a nation of people whose descendants came from all over the world for a better life. We’re not a nation that clings to our past, no matter how glorious or how painful. Americans rush towards the future.
“Please don’t doubt us. America’s diversity is our greatest strength. Diversity is not easy. Diversity is a leap of faith that embraces all faiths. And that’s why I believe LA is a perfect choice for the 2024 Games, because the face of our city reflects the face of the Olympic Movement itself.”
This story first appeared in the blog, The Sport Intern. The editor is Karl-Heinz Huba of Lorsch, Germany. He can be reached at ISMG@aol.com. The article is reprinted here with permission of Huba.