Los Angeles is one of four U.S. cities approved to bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced Friday.
Los Angeles joins Boston, San Francisco and Washington D.C. as the four cities that will bid for the U.S. entry for the international selection of the host city for the 2024 games. Dallas and San Diego had been considering bids, but dropped out.
The U.S. Olympic Committee is expected to decide early next year which city, if any, will be the official U.S. entry. The International Olympic Committee will choose the host city in 2017.
“We’re extremely pleased with the level of interest U.S. cities have shown in hosting the games, said Scott Blackmun, chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee. “Boston, L.A., San Francisco and Washington have each given us reason to believe they can deliver a compelling and successful bid, and we look forward to continuing to explore the possibilities as we consider 2024.”
Of the four cities, Los Angeles is the only one to have hosted previous Olympic Games, in 1932 and 1984. The 1984 games were largely financed with private funds and were one of the few Olympic Games to turn a profit; the LA 84 Foundation is still spending down some of the money on youth sports facilities.
L.A.’s current bid is led by the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, chaired by L.A. civic leader Barry Sanders. According to the committee’s website, the city’s bid will involve four venue clusters, with a renovated Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the centerpiece. The plan also calls for an Athlete’s Village to be built near the Los Angeles River.
Mayor Eric Garcetti said Friday he was pleased by the selection.
“Los Angeles is the ideal Olympic city, with endless diversity, attractions and scenic beauty,” Garcetti said. “I look forward to working with the USOC to ensure we present the strongest possible bid for our nation.”
