(ATR) One week after the IOC opens the door to jointly awarding the 2024 and 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, negotiations move forward with Los Angeles for 2028.
Paris is the other player in the race, believed to be favored for 2024.
Around the Rings is told that the IOC and Los Angeles are making progress in their talks to reach a deal for the 2028 Olympics.
Officials from the LA bid are said to have remained in Lausanne last week after the IOC Session that approved the 2024/2028 proposal.
Neither Los Angeles nor Paris would comment on the status of the talks.
In the extraordinary session the IOC unanimously backed a proposal for a tripartite agreement with Paris and Los Angeles that would settle on one city for 2024 and the other for 2028. The IOC session in Lima would confirm that agreement as opposed to making separate decisions on 2024 and 2028.
An IOC official, speaking on background, insists that talks are also underway with Paris. But if Paris is the choice for 2024, limited negotiations in France will be needed as guarantees are already approved for 2024 by city and national governments.
A move for Los Angeles to 2028 will require a review by the Los Angeles City Council and the California state legislature, which has said it would back a $250 million guarantee for the 2024 Games. Changes to make those guarantees stand for 2028 would be needed.
No date has been set for the public review of the revised Los Angeles bid plan, pending completion of the talks with the IOC. But that should happen in the coming weeks, as the IOC wants the question settled before the IOC vote scheduled at the Session in Lima Sept. 13.
If an agreement cannot be reached, the IOC will only select a 2024 host city.
While IOC President Thomas Bach indicated last week that both Paris and Los Angeles would be in play for either 2024 or 2028, behind the scenes there is a tacit belief that the IOC supports Paris first with Los Angeles favored as the 2028 host.
In June, Los Angeles bid chair Casey Wasserman issued a statement that the bid would not make ultimatums about accepting only 2024.
"To be blunt, LA 2024 has never been only about LA or 2024. Even when the issue of a dual award for the 2024 and 2028 Games was initially raised, we didn’t say it’s ‘LA first’ or it’s ‘now or never’ for LA: that sounds like an ultimatum.
"We don’t believe in ultimatums – we believe in partnership; that’s why we are willing to look beyond ourselves and ask the question 'how can LA best serve the long-term needs of the Olympic and Paralympic Games?' ", said Wasserman.
Paris has not issued a similar statement that either 2024 or 2028 is acceptable.
Paris carries sentimental appeal for the IOC, with 2024 marking the centennial of the last time the Summer Olympics were held in the French capital. Despite three attempts in recent years to secure a third Summer Games, Paris has come up short.
The Los Angeles bid is the third try from the U.S. for a Summer Games since the 2012 race won by London. Chicago failed in its bid for 2016 captured by Rio de Janeiro.
Written by Ed Hula.
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