LOS ANGELES/ PARIS: Paris has been as good as confirmed host city for the 2024 Summer Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Monday that rival candidate city Los Angeles had agreed to host the 2028 Games.
Other potential candidates - Rome, Budapest, Hamburg and Boston - all dropped out of the process amid increasing public opposition to an event that had become associated with wasteful spending, heavy deficits and white-elephant construction.
"In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC is pleased to release today (Monday) the Host City Contract 2028 following the declaration of candidature by the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Candidature Committee for the Olympic Games 2028," the IOC announced Monday.
In comparison to the Host City Contract 2024, the IOC is making two major changes: the IOC will advance funds representing an overall estimated value of $1.8 billion to the Los Angeles Organising Committee in view of the "longer planning period and to increase participation and access to youth sports programmes in Los Angeles in the years leading up to the Games".
"The IOC welcomes this decision of the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Candidature Committee and we are pleased to release the Host City contract 2028 in a transparent and timely manner, said IOC president Thomas Bach.
The IOC further declared: "Los Angeles presented an excellent candidature that embraces the Olympic Agenda 2020 sustainability priorities by maximising the use of existing facilities and encouraging the engagement of more youth in the Olympic Movement. Therefore, we are very happy that, as part of this Host City Contract, we are able to increase the access of the citys youth to sport, and encourage the healthy lifestyle of Angelenos for the next 11 years. We are very confident that we can reach a tripartite agreement under the leadership of the IOC with LA and Paris in August, creating a win-win-win situation for all three partners. This agreement will be put forward to the IOC Session in Lima in September for ratification."
The IOC will continue to work in close collaboration with Los Angeles in the lead-up to the ratification of the tripartite agreement by the full IOC membership at the 131st IOC Session in Lima, Peru, in September.
Reuters adds:
"I am proud to announce that the Olympic Games are coming back to the United States of America," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told a news conference at the StubHub Center sports complex in suburban Carson.
US President Donald Trump, beleaguered by recent staff shakeups and setbacks on Capitol Hill, hailed the news in a statement of congratulations from the White House.
"I am confident that the Summer Games in Los Angeles will exemplify both the Olympic ideal and the American spirit, and we look forward to hosting them," he said.
The United States has hosted the Olympics 9 times - 5 Summer Games and 4 Winter Games. France has hosted 6 times, three each in summer and winter.
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