The two hottest topics in the Olympic world took a back seat to L.A.'s sales pitch for the '24 Games yesterday, the first day of a three-day site visit by the IOC. Both the IOC and bid officials said the prospect of awarding both the '24 and '28 Games was not discussed, and neither were world politics and the Trump administration, other than to confirm the U.S. federal government's support for Games security. IOC Evaluation Commission Chair Patrick Baumann said, "We will be concentrating on the bid process that has started and these cities have been going through" (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer). Baumann added, "This evaluation commission is for 2024." In L.A., David Wharton notes the Olympic movement has "seen numerous potential hosts back away in recent years, with cities concerned about the cost of staging the Games." L.A. and Paris are "seen as strong contenders, running neck-and-neck, so the IOC could benefit from accepting both as hosts." The problem is, "neither candidate has expressed any willingness to go second" (L.A. TIMES, 5/11). The AP's Blood & Harris noted L.A. organizers have "publicly winced" at the '28 option -- as with Paris, they say they are bidding only for '24. The consolation prize "would not only be a disappointment" in L.A., it would "leave the city with challenges from maintaining public interest to recasting deals for stadiums, arenas and housing that have been in the works for months and even years." L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Gary Toebben said remaking the city's plan for '28 "would take an awesome amount of work because all of the conversations, all of the negotiations, all the plans, have been built around 2024." Blood & Harris note expanding the '24 host selection in September to include '28 also could "anger countries that had plans to bid on those Games" (AP, 5/10).
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE? USA TODAY's Christine Brennan writes there is "increasingly intelligent conversation" led by IOC President Thomas Bach that centers "on the notion of throwing convention out the window and selecting the hosts of the next two Games" during the September vote in Lima. With cities across the globe preferring to "pass on hosting the Games than take on the problems and overwhelming financial demands that ensnared Rio, Sochi and Athens, among others, how can the IOC afford to say no to either Los Angeles or Paris?" Brennan: "So give L.A. 2024 and Paris 2028. Or, if you must, Paris 2024 and L.A. 2028. ... Do it, be done with it and let everyone spend all the money they’re throwing away trying to impress the IOC’s faux royalty on something that’s actually important, like children’s education or after-school sports programs" (USA TODAY, 5/11).
LA LA LAND: USA TODAY's Rachel Axon notes in meetings yesterday, bid organizers "highlighted a build-up to the Games focused on athlete experience rather than on building venues because no new permanent ones need to be built." They "focused on fiscal responsibility and widespread public support." And they "addressed lingering concerns" -- for L.A., "namely, traffic." Baumann said, "Overall, it was a productive, relaxed and open, frank discussion with no surprises. It is clear that [Garcetti] and the entire Los Angeles 2024 are determined to ensure that the Games will leave a great legacy for the city and this region" (USA TODAY, 5/11). Longtime Olympic reporter Philip Hersh wrote L.A. has a "significantly better bid" than Paris and the current plan "looks like the best all-around candidature, especially in its fiscal planning, from a city in a democratic nation during my 30 years of covering these bids." The '84 L.A. Games saved the IOC "financially," and a '24 L.A. Games "could have a similarly profound impact on the IOC's ability to attract future bidders" (GLOBETROTTINGBYPHILIPHERSH.com, 5/8).
CAN'T STOP THE FEELING: 3 WIRE SPORTS' Alan Abrahamson wrote what IOC members will not see this week is "what sets Los Angeles apart from every other place in the world." Abrahamson: "It’s not a see-able thing. It’s a feeling. It’s the feeling the people of Southern California have for the Olympics because the Games are deeply woven into the fabric of life in SoCal." U.S. IOC member Angela Ruggiero, who also is the Chief Strategy Officer for the L.A. bid group, yesterday during her opening remarks said, "Our role as IOC members is to look beyond the tangible, for the intangible -- for the magic." Abrahamson: "This is the magic. The real people of Southern California. They want the Games" (3WIRESPORTS.com, 5/10).
