Reporter's Notebook: Los Angeles, Paris Aim to Charm Press, IOC

(ATR) For all of its fame as a center of gastronomy, Paris loses the battle to Los Angeles in my notebook of comparisons between the two 2024 Olympic bids. That’s just one of the differences between these two great cities that I visited along with the IOC Evaluation Commission.

For the past week, I was part of the media contingent covering the IOC visits, first in Los Angeles, followed by Paris. Here’s what I saw, tasted and brought home.

The Reception

In Paris we were given the experience to which I expect the IOC delegation is accustomed.

I was greeted at my exit gate, fast tracked through customs and driven in a luxury cab to the hotel.

In Los Angeles, journalists may not have been escorted through the airport, but they had access to an Uber account throughout the inspection, allowing the media to flexibly travel through the city.

The evening receptions of each city were comparable. LA 2024 demonstrated its star power by taking us to Hollywood Boulevard where we watched ABC late night TV Jimmy Kimmel Live from the hospitality room in the back of the studio. Kimmel even came to greet us.

In Paris, media boarded the Rosa Bonheur, a boat on the scenic River Seine that doubles as a restaurant and bar. French wine flowed and we were greeted by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and the Paris 2024 team.

The Food

It may be blasphemous to claim that dining options in Los Angeles surpassed those of Paris, but there was little effort in the way of Paris 2024 to expose its visitors to French cuisine.

Media in LA were taken to Otium, a contemporary restaurant known for its fusion delicacies and modern design. In Paris, the welcome reception offered charcuterie and other finger food which set the tone for dining experience the rest of the week.

In LA, organizers offered a spread from Korean steak wraps to roasted chicken and tamales which showcased the diversity of the city and the many tastes found in Southern California cuisine.

The Sights

While my expectations of French cuisine did not live up to the hype, the views and atmosphere of Paris far exceeded my imagination. As a first time visitor to the city, I was impressed with the beauty found on every street corner. The ornate architecture, cobblestone streets and iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower bring an air of romance to the city I did not find in LA.

The Venues

Los Angeles proved it is ready to host the Olympic Games today with its impressive two-day venue tour for media. From the Rose Bowl to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, it’s difficult for Paris to compete with the lineup of venues that prominent college and professional teams utilize every year.

Media also walked the campuses of USC and UCLA, home to the Media and Olympic Villages in the bid. According to pedometers worn by some on the tour, our delegation walked roughly seven miles on a brick and mortar tour that could’ve been accomplished with a slideshow.

In Paris, media toured the same amount of venues in one day thanks to a police escort that cleared the roadways for the three buses and nearly 200 journalists in attendance. The inspection in Paris was more athlete centered than in LA with the help of more than 65 athletes across the three-day visit.

The Traffic

Despite being known for its traffic woes, I experienced much less traffic in LA than in Paris. LA did not utilize a police escort for its two-bus tours and traveled on highways with ease. The venue tour in Paris would not have been possible without the escort.

The Events

Each of the bids entertained after 11-hour work days. In LA, media attended the Kimmel show, went to a LA Dodgers baseball game and ate dinner at the Annenberg Beach House in Santa Monica.

In Paris, the Rosa Bonheur reception, boat ride along the River Seine during the venue tour, Ice Hockey World Championship match between France and Slovenia and rooftop reception along the scenic Champs Elysees showed that the city could compete with the charms of LA.

The IOC

Evaluation commission chairman Patrick Baumann had nothing bad to say about either of the two bids. He was challenged every day to come up with new superlatives to dish out to the projects, going from "mind-blowing" to "10 out of 10" and "incredible" to "no risk".

The cities remain neck and neck in the race and the question that now remains is one of timing, not competency. The IOC seems poised to award both the 2024 and 2028 Olympics so each will likely host the Games – it’s just a matter of time.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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