The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to give final approval for LA 2024 and authorize the City of Los Angeles to sign the Host City Contract with the IOC for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman and CEO Gene Sykes were joined by more than 50 Olympians and Paralympians from seven nations at the Council meeting for the vote, including US IOC Executive Board Members Anita DeFrantz and Angela Ruggiero.
The City Council’s decision legally empowers the City and the US Olympic Committee to accept without restriction the right and responsibility to host the Games if Los Angeles is elected by IOC members on September 13 in Lima, Peru. As part of its final submission to the IOC on February 3, LA 2024 will provide a full set of guarantees against any budget shortfall that fully complies with the IOC’s requirements.
“These guarantees are possible because, in developing its fiscally responsible and sustainable Games Plan, LA 2024 sought to eliminate scenarios which could create unexpected costs,” explains the LA 2024 Bid Committee. “No new Games-related public infrastructure, no new complex and costly development projects such as an Olympic Village, and no new permanent competition venues are required to stage the 2024 Games in LA. As a result, LA 2024 has been able to present a rigorous, realistic and balanced budget with $5.3 billion of revenue and $4.8 billion cost, as well as $488 million contingency. This budget was independently assessed and ratified by KPMG.”
“The IOC’s Host City Contract is our promise that Los Angeles is ready to host an outstanding and fiscally responsible Olympic and Paralympic Games. If LA is selected as the 2024 Host City, our low-risk, high-tech and sustainable Games will inspire the next generation to grow the Olympic Movement and provide social and economic benefits for our communities. Today’s City Council approval is its 14th unanimous vote in support of LA 2024 — and it shows that our City is united to bring the Games back to L.A,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, with LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman stating: “LA 2024 has worked hand-in-hand with our partners at City Hall and the USOC to create a plan that is perfectly tailored to the aspirations of the New LA. LA 2024’s fiscally responsible, ‘no surprises’ Games Plan aligns with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms and has the potential to serve the Olympic Movement long after 2024. The City Council’s unanimous backing is a strong vote of confidence and a historic milestone in our journey to bring the Games back to the City of Angels after 40 years. We are immensely grateful to the City Council and the people of Los Angeles for their continued and passionate support.”
USOC CEO Scott Blackmun added: “The partnership between LA 2024, the City and the USOC is the strongest of any of the US bids I have been involved with. It has allowed us to construct a comprehensive set of guarantees for the IOC, whilst simultaneously minimizing risk for the City and LA 2024 through the use of existing assets. LA 2024 can provide the Olympic Movement with total clarity and certainty on the cost of the Games, so together we can all turn our focus to creating the best experience for everyone. The shared vision among LA 2024 and City Hall puts Los Angeles in an excellent position to realize the full potential of its new Games for a new era.”
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.