The IOC now says all four cities bidding for the 2024 Summer Games got a letter reminding them about rules against campaigning at the Rio Olympics.
In the early days of the Games, three of the four bidders violated rules by inviting the media to visit their exhibitions at their country hospitality houses. On Tuesday, the IOC said they had been reprimanded and ordered to stop. But on Thursday, the IOC clarified that all four cities had been “reminded of the rules.”
Other than a single press conference, campaigning in the 2024 contest is prohibited in Rio.
Budapest is the only bid committee to specifically deny wrongdoing. “I can confirm that all four candidate cities have received a memo from IOC,” said Budapest ’24 spokesman Ivan Rozsa. “However, Budapest was not told to have broken any rules.”
Rome ’24 and Los Angeles ’24 also confirmed receipt. Rome admitted it had been inviting visitors and said it would stop. Paris has not responded to requests for comment.
“The IOC sent an email reminder to us and other bid cities of the Rio restrictions, which we surely will observe,” said LA ’24 spokesman Jeff Millman.
Bid cities can be fined or docked votes under the IOC rules of conduct for the 2024 host campaign. The IOC will vote in September '17.
