IOC negotiations with L.A. and Paris have "already begun in preliminary fashion but will now turn more serious" in the coming weeks after it approved a plan to award both '24 and '28 Games simultaneously, according to David Wharton of the L.A. TIMES. IOC President Thomas Bach "suggested that talks could begin in earnest" as early as last night when he joined L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo for dinner, but he "did not expect an immediate resolution." Bach: "I just hope in August we could be there if everything is going well" (L.A. TIMES, 7/12). 3 WIRE SPORTS' Alan Abrahamson wrote the deal will be "done in just weeks, maybe even before the calendar turns to August." President Trump has accepted French President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation to visit France on Bastille Day, July 14, and "maybe that is some strategic thinking there." In choosing the host cities for the '24 and '28 Games together, the IOC is "setting its course -- not just where but how and with whom it does business, what it purports to stand for -- not just for seven but for 11 years" (3WIRESPORTS.com, 7/11). USA TODAY's Rachel Axon writes it is a "historic moment for the IOC, one that gives them the opportunity to secure the future of the Summer Olympics for more than a decade." It is also "historic for two cities that have endured several failed attempts to host the Games, with both mayors expressing confidence they can reach an agreement." Canadian IOC member Dick Pound said, "It buys us some time to take a longer term view of how we attract and encourage and deal with the candidate cities" (USA TODAY, 7/12).
POSITIVE MOMENTUM: In N.Y., Jere Longman writes the IOC's decision is an effort to "counter diminished interest shown by democratic nations in hosting the Olympics amid exorbitant costs, white-elephant stadiums, widespread corruption, rampant doping and limited appeal to the youth audience" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/12). ESPN.com's Bonnie Ford wrote there were "no nays in the raised-hands vote" to award the Games simultaneously, reflecting the fact that "many within the IOC want to end the recent, embarrassing trend" of cities not wanting to host the Games (ESPN.com, 7/11). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Matthew Futterman notes the decision is "part of a broader move that finds the IOC moving with uncharacteristic urgency to maintain its prominence as the sports and entertainment landscape shifts beneath its feet." Former IOC Dir of Marketing Michael Payne said that Bach is "making up for the stasis" of former IOC President Jacques Rogge’s 12 years of leadership. Payne: "This is stuff that should have been done previously" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/12). In California, Scott Reid writes this is a "major victory" for Bach, who has pushed the joint awarding of the '24 and '28 Games as a "bold and significant step in a new direction for an Olympic movement threatened by corruption, financial disaster and dwindling interest among potential host cities and key younger demographics." It is a moment that "provided at least a brief respite for Bach," whose four years as IOC President have been "marred by the Rio de Janeiro financial disaster, the Russian doping controversy and a series of corruption scandals within the IOC as well several major cities withdrawing their bids for recent Games." The IOC vote also "boosts the political profile of Garcetti" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/12).
ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE: The L.A. TIMES' Wharton in a front-page piece notes if L.A. were to get the '28 Games, it would "require adjustments to all the venue agreements." The L.A. City Council, which had previously approved a '24 bid, "would need to revisit the plan." L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson said, "We’ll take whatever actions need to be taken. At this point, I don’t see any hang-ups" (L.A. TIMES, 7/12). In L.A., Mark Whicker writes it would be "better for L.A. to wait" until '28. An 11-year window would "allow L.A. to push its Metro system toward full service and away from the grievous mistakes of Atlanta’s MARTA system, which never had enough cars for the demand." It also would give LAX "more time for its renovation" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/12).
