LA 2024 Chair Casey Wasserman on Wednesday issued a statement indicating a willingness to host the 2028 Games instead of 2024, two days before the IOC Exec Board meets to formally propose awarding both years’ Games simultaneously. Wasserman wrote, “To be blunt, LA 2024 has never been only about LA or 2024. Even when the issue of a dual award for the 2024 and 2028 Games was initially raised, we didn’t say it’s ‘LA first’ or it’s ‘now or never’ for LA: that sounds like an ultimatum. We could have used that strategy, but we didn't because we thought it was presumptuous to tell the IOC what to do and how to think. We’re better partners than that.” Wasserman was trying to frame L.A. as the more accommodating partner for the IOC, in contrast to rival Paris. But many Olympic observers interpreted his remarks as fresh proof that L.A. is prepared to accept defeat on '24. Inside the Games, a British trade publication, reported that LA 2024 “effectively conceded” the race on Wednesday. LA 2024 declined to comment on the website’s characterization, but multiple sources said the bid group has not abandoned hopes for winning '24 and continues to campaign. For months, conventional wisdom has held that Paris enjoyed a slight but not insurmountable edge over L.A. among IOC voters for '24, and neither Paris nor L.A. would acknowledge anything other than a desire to win '24. However, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti confirmed on May 31 that he had begun talks with the IOC about conditions under which L.A. would agree to wait, and the Wall Street Journal reported that such a plan was already being hatched. Furthermore, sources said that President Donald Trump’s belittling of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accords and his behavior at the recent NATO meeting have damaged L.A.’s hopes of a comeback among the European-dominated IOC. The IOC is expected to put forth a plan to award both the 2024 and 2028 Games to Paris and L.A. on Friday, then seek a full membership vote on the plan in July, with a vote on the all-important order coming in September.
