Report: Los Angeles close to becoming U.S. bid city for 2024 Olympics
Los Angeles is close to becoming the United States Olympic Committee's candidate to bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, reports Peter Jamison of the Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles estimates that hosting the 2024 Olympics would cost $4 billion and that the city would be able to cover any overrun costs, something Boston officials refused to put their city on the hook for in their short-lived candidacy. Boston's Olympic bid came to an end on July 27 as Boston mayor Marty Walsh said he would not put taxpayers at risk by signing a contract with the United States Olympic Committee.
“I think it is right for this city. I think it's who we are,” Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti told the Times. “I think we benefit from it economically, socially.”
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Los Angeles has an advantage in its proposed bid by already having stadiums and infrastructure from the 1984 Summer Olympics. Los Angeles also hosted the 1932 Olympics.
National Olympic committees have until Sept. 15 to submit their candidate city selection to the International Olympic Committee. The field of candidate cities outside of the United States includes Paris, Rome, Budapest and Hamburg, Germany.
- Christopher Chavez
