LA 2024 during a presentation today in Qatar only briefly and indirectly mentioned President-elect Donald Trump to a major Olympic group. Gold Medal-winning U.S. runner Allyson Felix did the work of reassuring international officials that Trump’s isolationist rhetoric would not change the U.S. Olympic movement. "Some of you may question America’s commitment to its founding principles,” Felix said, according to a prepared speech. "I have one message for you: Please don't doubt us. America’s diversity is our greatest strength. Diversity is not easy. Diversity is a leap of faith that embraces all faiths. And that’s why I believe L.A. is a perfect choice for the 2024 Games, because the face of our city reflects the face of the Olympic movement itself.” LA 2024 Chair Casey Wasserman and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, both major Hillary Clinton supporters, did not discuss the election during their part of the presentation. The surprise election result is a challenge for the bid team after Wasserman in August said, “People should judge our country on who our president is, not who runs for president." However, Garcetti did make a few remarks today that could be seen as contrarian to Trump. "I see an America that is outward-looking, ready to play its role alongside the community of nations to address our world’s most pressing challenges,” Garcetti said. "Choose LA 2024 and help us show a new generation of Americans that our strength is being with the world, not turning our backs to it.” While discussing Trump in August, Garcetti said, “An America that turns inward isn’t good for world peace, isn’t good for world progress.”
IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Six L.A. bid leaders and athletes addressed the Association of National Olympic Committees, a group that includes most of the 98 IOC members who will choose a host for the ‘24 Games in September in Lima, Peru. This was the first of three formal presentations permitted by Olympic bid rules prior to the IOC's final vote. Tailoring its message to the group, LA 2024 said it would create an Olympic Village Council made up of country team reps to plan the athletes’ village during the Games, now slated for dorms at UCLA. The village was a core point of emphasis, with LA 2024 noting nearby training facilities and the track record of the facilities as housing. USOC Chair Larry Probst said half of the world’s Olympic teams use U.S. training facilities to one extent or another. "There’ll be no worries about Village construction, because our village already exists,” said IOC Athletes Commission Chair and LA 2024 Chief Strategy Officer Angela Ruggiero. "There’ll be no worries about training a Games-time workforce, because UCLA already houses and feeds 20,000 students from around the world, every day.” Paris and Budapest were also scheduled to give 20-minute speeches after L.A. finished.
SIZING UP THE COMPETITION: L.A.'s chief rival, Paris, sought to curry favor from the audience by announcing its set of proposals for "concierge services" the city will offer teams, coaches and officials during the '24 Games. Paris also presented France as a uniquely sport-enthusiastic country, noting 40 sold-out Olympic sport events hosted there since '10. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said the Olympics in her city would align with the IOC in "respecting the planet, fighting for development, creating opportunities for young people, supporting gender equality through sport and especially through the Games, which unite humankind in a way that nothing else can.” Budapest, hoping to escape conventional wisdom that considers it an also-ran, argued its small size is better for the '24 Olympics than a megacity like L.A. or Paris. Officials said every venue would be within seven kilometers of the city center, with an average travel time of 12 minutes between sporting events. Also, nearly 90% of Hungary would be within 90 minutes of the Games -- but that includes some far-flung venues far from downtown Budapest. "The experience will be truly new and unique,” said Budapest Dir of Sports & Venues Attila Mizser. "The whole city as one single connected Olympic Park. A genuine compact games experience built into the fabric of the city and accessible to all.”
