Reporting from Los Angeles, U.S.A. – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission (EC) and Los Angeles’ bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Tuesday kicked off critical meetings as part of a three-day visit to the city.
EC Chair Patrick Baumann made opening remarks at the JW Marriot Hotel and spoke of LA and bid rival Paris representing two good bids before explaining that for the next three days he would “follow the sun” with LA and the “City of Angels.” He also thanked LA 2024 for taking the EC to a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game Tuesday and treating the group to “Dodger Dogs.”
Casey Wasserman, Chairman of LA 2024 said “for the next few days we will be sharing our plans, and our dreams with this distinguished group of Olympic and Paralympic Games experts in our quest to bring the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games back to Los Angeles.”
The IOC Evaluation Commission joined #LA2024 & thousands of fans at #DodgerStadium to celebrate & experience LA's passion for sports! pic.twitter.com/z8qMMWwB7n
— LA28 (@LA28) May 10, 2017
“Our meeting with the Evaluation Commission are the culmination of literally years of works by dozens of people all united by one dream.
“The LA 2024 Games Concept was created to address this unique moment in time,” Wasserman added, stressing the bid’s desire to host in 2024, and not in 2028 – an option the IOC is considering to offer to the ‘loser’ of the bid.
“When cities around the world are becoming more reluctant to pursue the Games, LA offers the IOC certainty with 88 percent public support, a low-risk, verified budget and a sustainable Games plan that doesn’t require us to build a single new permanent venue.”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Tuesday “we are honored to welcome the IOC Evaluation Commission to the City of Angels. All of us at LA 2024 are excited to share our plans with the IOC experts this week, but we are even more excited to share our city.”
Two members of the Commission, Tsunekazu Takeda of Japan and Gunilla Lindberg of Sweden were absent at the opening session due to illness, according to Baumann.
Several iconic venues, including the City Hall, Disney Water Tower, US Bank Tower and Hollywood Bowl were lit up with LA 2024 colors Tuesday evening to commemorate the visit.
The EC will spend Wednesday examining documents and presentations before visiting proposed venues in person Thursday.
The IOC does not plan to speak to reporters about their experience in Los Angeles until a scheduled press conference on Friday before the team heads to Paris for an evaluation of the French Capital.
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