(ATR)David Simon,president of the Los Angeles Sports Council, saysthat the mutual decision of the U.S. Olympic Committee and Boston leaders to drop the city's 2024 Olympic bid puts the country's sports leaders in a unique situation.
"I don't know that the USOC has ever been in this exact position before," he told Around the Rings on Monday.ATR caught up with Simon on the scene in L.A. at the 2015 Special Olympic World Games.
In a joint statement from the USOC and Boston 2024 released on July 27, the two groups said the time was right to withdraw the bid from the Massachusetts city.
The USOC must submit a letter of intent to the IOC before Sept. 15 in order to bid for the 2024 Olympics.
"They've indicated they are going to conduct a fast process to try to identify a replacement candidate," Simon said.
"I hope and expect that Los Angeles would be on their short list for that purpose."
Simon has been active in international sports since 1977 when he became involved in L.A.'s bid to host the 1984 Olympic Games. He also served as president of the L.A. 2012 and 2016 bid committees.
Right now, most L.A. leaders are deferring to a statement issued by Mayor Eric Garcetti on Monday.While the mayor's office has not spoken to members of the USOC, Garcetti said he continues to believe that L.A. is the "ideal Olympic city."
He added, "I would be happy to engage in discussions with the USOC about how to present the strongest and most fiscally responsible bid on behalf of our city and nation."
In speaking with ATR on Monday,Simon also discussed the "pizzazz" that only L.A. can bring to an event the Special Olympics World Games.
Written and produced byNicole Bennett
Homepage photo: Getty Images
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