Olympian Janet Evans Would Welcome Role with L.A. Olympic Bid

(ATR)While Los Angeles City Council leaders mull a decision on whether the city should host the 2024 Games, Olympian Janet Evans has made up her mind regarding potential participation in an L.A. bid.

Rumored to be a possible face of the bid, Evans tells Around the Rings,"I was a part of the successful 1996 Atlanta bid and the 2012 New York City bid. It was an honor to be a part of both of those bids.

"Of course if L.A. does receive the bid, I would love to be involved in any capacity."

On Thursday,L.A. 2024 released their bid book projecting a surplus over $150 million ahead of the city council vote to proceed with the bid this Friday.

The L.A. City Council began discussion and consideration of the proposal during Wednesday's session. The council members will vet the budget and plans submitted before voting to approve the proposal on Friday, U.S. Olympic Committee communications chief Patrick Sandusky tells ATR.

As a board member of the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, Evans says that she receives regular updates on the bid selection process for L.A. and around the world.

When asked who she thinks could best lead the city's potential Olympic bid, Evans tells ATR, "L.A. has just a great group of leaders with ties to the Olympic movement.

"There are many I can think of who would do an incredible job."

Although the organizing committee members would not be chosen prior to the city council vote this Friday, the bid shows Casey Wasserman as the current chairman and chief executive officer while John Harper will serve as the vice president and chief financial officer.

Wasserman was the first to deliver news about the released bid book, posting a link to the document on his Twitter page Tuesday afternoon.

Evans says, "I believe that as well as a business leader, many successful Olympic bids have generally had a legacy-type athlete as a face of the bid (think David Beckham for London's successful 2012 bid).

"Needless to say, L.A. has many of those athletes."

As a freestyle swimmer, Evans won a total of four gold medals at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics Games. She currently lives in Southern California with her husband and two children.

Residents of L.A. have a large amount of support for the Games, according to Evans.

"While I loved being a part of both the Atlanta and NYC bids, I truly believe that there is no city in the U.S. that has more support for the Olympic Games than L.A."

The Olympic gold medalist adds, "Residents still speak about the 1984 Games with reverence and awe and often ask me if the Games will ever come back.

"We have many venues that have already been built, which significantly cuts costs.

"With the restoration of downtown and the many venues that have been erected in and around the city since 1984, these Games would be successful without putting too much of a burden on the city in terms of building facilities."

Ahead of the city council's vote on Friday, Evans tells ATR that she expects a positive outcome.

"The L.A. City Council has traditionally supported every run L.A. has made for the Games and although I cannot speak for the Council, I believe tomorrow will be no different."

Written byNicole Bennett

Homepage photo: Getty Images

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