(ATR) A Southern California tradition has an Olympic feel to start of 2017.
The Los Angeles 2024 float marched down Pasadena, California as part of the 2017 Rose Parade. The parade precedes the annual prestigious college football Rose Bowl game in Pasadena. For 2017 the theme of the parade is "Echoes of Success."
Traditionally the parade is held on Jan. 1, but parade rules dictates the event be delayed one day if New Year's falls on a Sunday.
The float featured a model of the iconic arches of the Los Angeles Coliseum, the stadium for both the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. If Los Angeles secures the 2024 Olympics, it will become the first stadium to open three Olympics. A LA 2024 spokesperson said the bid partnered with the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board to develop the float.
Beaming out of the model Coliseum is the bid’s logo of an angel draped in sunlight. The name of the float is "Follow the Sun," the same as the motto for the bid. Over 10,000 roses adorn the float, which features a beach volleyball court in the center.
Aboard the float was IOC executive board member, LA 2024 senior advisor, and Olympic bronze medalist Anita DeFrantz. Joining DeFrantz are Olympians Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, Lex Gillette, April Ross, Haley Anderson, Candace Cable, Dawn Harper-Nelson, Holly McPeak, Howard Shu and Sinjin Smith. Young athletes from the Los Angeles area are also on the float.
"I am inspired by all the community members who volunteered to build our ‘Follow the Sun’ float and all of the beautiful floats on display here today," DeFrantz said in a statement provided to Around the Rings. "The community work that goes into making the Rose Parade possible is a continuing testament to what Angelenos can accomplish when we are united by a common goal and purpose. Events like these give me great confidence that LA would offer the perfect, most welcoming and inspiring atmosphere for athletes, fans and members of the Olympic family in 2024."
Riding behind the float are Olympians Janet Evans, Allyson Felix, and Greg Louganis, who are the grand marshals for the parade. After the parade Evans, Felix, and Louganis will participate in the coin toss to start the Rose Bowl featuring the University of Southern California and Pennsylvania State.
Evans is vice chair and director of athletes relations for LA 2024, while both Felix and Louganis are members of the LA 2024 athletes commission.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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