The USOC appears to be "sticking to an all-or-nothing approach" when it comes to bringing the '24 Summer Games to L.A., according to David Wharton of the L.A. TIMES. USOC Chair Larry Probst said his organization remains "absolutely laser-focused" on winning the bid for '24. According to USOC documents made public yesterday, if Paris and Budapest are chosen for '24, L.A. "would not accept the consolation prize" of hosting in '28. That possibility was floated by IOC President Thomas Bach last month when he "suggested that his members might take the unprecedented move of choosing two winners when they gather in Lima, Peru, to vote on a host in September." The USOC BOD also "ruled out any bid" for the '26 Winter Games, though cities such as Reno and Salt Lake City had "expressed initial interest" (L.A. TIMES, 1/12).
GROWING SUPPORT: DIGIDAY's Yuyu Chen noted LA 2024 is working with Wasserman-owned agency Laundry Service on social campaigns. LA 2024's Facebook account started off last year with "almost 10,000 fewer fans than Paris 2024, but grew at an average rate of 17,255 new fans per month." That is 311% more than Paris 2024 and 400% more than Budapest 2024. Laundry Service L.A. Dir of Client Services Cosette Chaput explained that LA 2024’s primary goal on social has always been to "amplify bid messaging with engaging content to garner support from as many fans as possible" leading up to the IOC vote on Sept. 13. She said that the account’s Facebook growth is "mainly ascribed to Facebook Live and athlete storytelling," which "helps drive the sentiment as well." Laundry Service most recently "produced a video series called 'Coming Home' featuring the warm welcome athletes received upon their return from the Rio Games, as well as their hope to compete in L.A. if the Games were to return to the U.S." The social media agency also "monitors LA 2024 social channels around the clock, maintaining constant, real-time, open dialogue with both the agency and the bid team to share any noteworthy chatter" (DIGIDAY.com, 1/11).
