LA 2024 brought the sunshine to its meetings with the IOC today in Switzerland, but Paris' bid brought Western Europe’s new political superstar and stole the show. IOC President
Thomas Bach met with both L.A. Mayor
Eric Garcetti and French President
Emmanuel Macron, exchanging the usual pleasantries after they toured the Olympics Museum with their respective entourages. The L.A. contingent made no missteps, but it could not overcome the sheer gravity of Macron’s arrival. Tomorrow, the bid cities will present their plans, and the IOC will formally approve the plan to award both the ’24 and ’28 games simultaneously.
Security in Lausanne was extraordinary today, with both dogs and humans going through every journalists’ belongings in detail hours in advance. Police boats drifted offshore on Lake Geneva, and helicopters hovered overhead. Also, dozens of French journalists joined the usual Olympics press corps already on hand for Macron. Bach and Macron's joint statement was 30 minutes late after a 24-minute private conversation during the tour. After the welcome ceremony, Macron attended a dinner for IOC members along with the L.A. and Paris delegations.
