Los Angeles’ bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games released the second video in it’s “Legends of LA” film series aimed at highlighting proposed venues for the Games through memories of renowned athletes who competed there.
https://youtu.be/MSv028WO9ns
In Thursday’s second episode Olympic Champion and retired LA Lakers Basketball star Kobe Bryant reminisces about the Staples Center Arena in downtown Los Angeles – the heart of LA Live.
According to the bid “as the home of four professional sports franchises – the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks – STAPLES Center hosts over 250 events and over 4 million guests annually with events ranging from professional sports, live music, family shows, boxing and special events.”
Bryant won Olympic gold as a member of the U.S. basketball team in 2008 and 2012.
In the video, Bryant praises Staples Center’s unique ability to inspire athletes, and points to LA’s “versatility” and “diversity” as features that would make the City of Angels the most welcoming host for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Bryant said “I think the building itself kind of gives this stage-like feel to it – it’s as if you’re performing. It’s much, much different than other venues that I’ve played in.”
“Other venues feel just like a basketball game. [Staples Center] doesn’t feel just like a basketball game – here it feels like you’re on Broadway, performing.
“Imagine everything converging into one place. What I love about LA so much is that it can be anything you want it to be. The versatility is amazing. The diversity here of the people is amazing. I just don’t think there’s any better place in the world to be.”
The first video in the series featured Olympic champion and LA 2024 Athletes’ Advisory Commission member Carl Lewis reliving his memories of the 1984 Games in the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Upcoming episodes will feature Olympians including Wayne Gretzky, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Cobi Jones and Carl Lewis who have made history competing in proposed LA 2024 venues.
