LA 2024's submission to the IOC on its vision, concept and strategy for a third Summer Games in Southern California "was met with solid reviews" yesterday, according to Scott Reid of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. The 64-page bid Stage I document "profiles a diverse city that has reinvented itself" since hosting the '84 Games, and a bid that "boasts a wealth of existing venues and is aligned with the IOC’s Agenda 2020 reforms." USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said, “Nothing but strong encouragement right now." Reid notes the Stage II submission "on governance, legal and venue funding is due Oct. 7." A Stage III submission "dealing with Games delivery, experience and venue legacy has a Feb. 3, 2017 deadline." LA 2024 co-Chair Casey Wasserman said, “It’s our job to do what we can to (show the IOC that) what we’re putting forward is the very best Olympic bid that Los Angeles is capable of delivering in its most unique form. And we believe this Stage I deliverable is the first step in that process." While Rams Owner Stan Kroenke’s $2.66B stadium in Inglewood is not listed among the competition venues in the submission, Wasserman said that it would have a "high profile role." Reid notes LA 2024 officials "are engaged in ongoing discussions with officials working on the Inglewood project" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/18). The AP's Beth Harris notes LA 2024 organizers are "promising a prudent and responsible approach to running the games that would be entirely privately financed." Wasserman: "That is the definition of sustainability in terms of legacy and cost. There's no risk involved with venues or facilities" (AP, 2/17).
MULTIPLE CHOICE: In L.A., David Wharton notes this week "brought more clarity to the competition" among four cities wanting to host the '24 Games. Rome "promised to incorporate the Roman Forum and Circus Maximus into its venue layout." Paris "spoke of beach volleyball at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and cyclists racing past the Arc de Triomphe." Budapest, "seen as a longshot, pushed the idea of Eastern European charm in an intimate setting." L.A.'s filing stated that 97% of the required venues "are in existence, were already planned by private interests or could be erected as temporary facilities." Paris and Rome "can make similar claims about existing facilities, so it will take more than brick and mortar to win the bid" (L.A. TIMES, 2/18).
