(ATR) Convincing IOC members to vote for their city: the ultimate challenge. That’s the quest facing the leaders of the three bids for 2024 from Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris.
Expect to see the bid chiefs and their teams at every possible opportunity to meet and greet IOC members in the next nine months of campaigning left until the vote.
From Budapest, Balazs Furjes is the chairman, a veteran big project leader as a deputy prime minister. Laszlo Vajda, well-known NOC expert, is vice chair. Within the IOC, Pal Schmitt, a senior member, carries the flame for his hometown. Prime Minister Viktor Orban is the source of the political support for the Hungarian bid which is regarded as a national project.
Mayor Istvan Tarlos will help influence opinion about Budapest when the city hosts the 2017 FINA World Championships. Preparing the city to welcome the event in July is a must for the bid to capitalize on this opportunity to showcase the charms of Budapest.
Los Angeles is led by Casey Wasserman, 42, a well-connected media and sports agent who has invested hundreds of days in the past 18 months introducing himself to the IOC and other influencers. His team includes vice chair Janet Evans, chief strategy officer and IOC member Angela Ruggiero and former Goldman Sachs exec Gene Sykes as CEO. Behind the scenes, Terrence Burns of Teneo is assisting with marketing and presentation of the bid while Jon Tibbs and Associates are important cogs for international promotion.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is the political go-getter behind the bid. The impact of President Donald Trump will be interesting to watch, especially with his rule-breaking style of communication. And the IOC has its rules.
The U.S. bid carries the biggest contingent of IOC members among the 2024 bids. Along with Ruggiero there’s Anita DeFrantz and Larry Probst.
The Paris 2024 bid is led by Bernard Lapasset, the distinguished ex-president of World Rugby, well-known to the IOC through the reintroduction of the sport in Rio de Janeiro. The co-president is Tony Estanguet, 38, IOC member, Olympic champion in canoe, also vice chair of the IOC Athletes Commission.
Mike Lee’s Vero Communications handles international media and promotion.
Mayor Anne Hidalgo is the top political figure for the bid, especially with uncertainty over who will win the presidential election in May. From the IOC, the Paris team includes members in France Estanguet and Guy Drut, the senior member.
Homepage photo: Getty Images
Written by Ed Hula.
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