The Los Angeles bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024 announced that major sport leagues across America, including Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer and the National Football League have joined the National Basketball Association and the Women’s National Basketball Association in support of the nation’s campaign.
In addition to the leagues’ support, an LA 2024 announcement said, “benefits from the strategic insight and deep experience of individual professional teams owners and executives on its Board of Directors, including industry leaders like LA Dodgers, LAFC, and LA Sparks owner Earvin “Magic” Johnson and LA Kings Co-owner Ed Roski, Jr.”
As part of the bid’s #FollowTheSun to Olympic Agenda 2020 campaign, which promises 20 announcements in 20 days that will show how an LA Games will contribute to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Agenda 2020 strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, the leagues’ backing complies with roadmap recommendation 8 encouraging the Olympic Movement to forge relationships with professional leagues.
At the end of the 20 days, LA 2024 delegates will arrive in Lausanne, Switzerland for a key technical presentation to IOC members. At the same time, the IOC will decide whether it will elect both the 2024 and 2028 Games at the same time – guaranteeing that LA will get the chance to host the Games next decade.
LA 2024 says that league partnerships will help ensure the field of play for the athletes is always “state-of-the-art for all competitions,” – and they’ll also help with progress towards four other recommendations.
The country's biggest sports leagues unite to support #LA2024 & #FollowtheSun to Olympic Agenda 2020!@MLS ✅@MLB ✅@NFL ✅@NBA ✅@WNBA ✅ pic.twitter.com/ZlTBiSMrdM
— LA28 (@LA28) June 25, 2017
Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr., said” Los Angeles is known for its diverse culture, rich sports history and beautiful weather and would be the perfect location for the Olympics and Paralympics. I wish success to everyone associated with the effort to bring the Games back to Los Angeles.”
Should LA host the Games, it is likely baseball would be included in the program as one of the sports that host cities may nominate for inclusion. Iconic Dodger Stadium as well as other baseball venues in Southern California would be ready for the events.
National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell said “Los Angeles is a legendary sports town.”
“When you combine that legacy with the grandeur of Hollywood and leading tech companies along its shores, Los Angeles is in the best position to produce a state-of-the art Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Los Angeles is the home for two new NFL teams and the LA 2024 Opening Ceremony is planned to be held at their home stadium.
LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman said “LA 2024 is honored to earn the broad support from MLS, MLB and NFL in addition to our support from the NBA and WNBA. The widespread support is demonstrative of LA 2024’s potential to engage new and dynamic partners to benefit the Olympic and Paralympic Movements for decades to come.”
LA, and bid rival Paris are competing to host the Games in 2024, and potentially instead in 2028 if the IOC decides to award both Games at a meeting in Lima, Peru on September 13.
