USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said that the organization would "like to narrow its candidate cities to two or three and make the decision whether to bid" for the '24 Games by the end of the year, according to Kelly Whiteside of USA TODAY. A source said that cities under "heavy consideration" include L.A., Boston, S.F. and Dallas. Bidding for the '24 Games "begins next year" and the winning city will be announced in '17. Whiteside writes the USOC is in "much better position to bid for the Games compared to the previous two attempts." Both U.S. bids to host the '12 and '16 Games (N.Y. and Chicago) "failed miserably in large part to a revenue-sharing feud between the USOC and IOC." Both USOC Chair Larry Probst and Blackmun have "spent significant time the past two years building friendships and support, and Probst is now an IOC member" (USA TODAY, 4/9). Blackmun yesterday on a conference call said, "The dialogue is really around which cities do we think can put together a bid that is going to be a fantastic bid and which cities do we think have the opportunity to win. Before we make a final decision we need to get into fairly detailed discussions with hopefully a smaller number of cities so our objective is to be in that position within the next couple of months" (REUTERS, 4/8).
L.A. STORY: In L.A., David Wharton notes the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games has been "working on details" to bring the Olympics to L.A. for a third time. The group has been "gathering community support from Mayor Eric Garcetti and others while weighing various scenarios for where events could be held." Though the city has a "substantial sports infrastructure," the L.A. Memorial Coliseum would "require a significant upgrade for any serious bid, and some facilities might have to be constructed from scratch." Potential sites such as Farmers Field and a Chivas USA stadium beside the Coliseum "might come into play" (L.A. TIMES, 4/9).
IN NEED OF FUNDING: San Diego '24 Exploratory Committee Chair Vincent Mudd said that his group is "currently self-funded" but would need to raise $2.8M should it "make the impending USOC cut." Mudd added that his group has "submitted an 80-page preliminary proposal that was reviewed by the USOC and then adjusted with its recommendations" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/9).
