Los Angeles reaches deal to host 2028 Olympics
Written by News on 01/08/2017
Los Angeles has reached a deal with the International Olympic Committee to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The LA Bid Committee and the International Olympic Committee announced on Monday night they had come to an agreement over the Host City Contract for 2028.
Los Angeles had originally bid for the 2024 games but when all the other candidates pulled out leaving just Paris and LA, the IOC took the unprecedented step of deciding to award host city status for 2024 and 2028.
This latest news means no one is left in Paris’ way to win the bid to host the 2024 games , 100 years after the Olympics was last held in the French capital.
The Host City Contract awards $1.8 billion of IOC funding to Los Angeles to help cover the costs of a longer planning period and to increase participation and access to youth sports programs.
The deal now needs to be ratified by the Los Angeles City Council and the United States Olympic Committee and unless there is a hitch the IOC Council will confirm the 2024 games will be held in Paris and the 2028 games in LA when they meet on 13th September, 2017.
"The IOC welcomes this decision of the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic bid committee," chairman Thomas Bach said.
"We are very confident that we can reach a tripartite agreement under the leadership of the IOC with LA and Paris, creating a win-win-win situation for all three partners.
"This agreement will be put forward to the IOC Session in Lima in September for ratification."
USA President Donald Trump met with Bach in June and a statement from the LA Bid Committee said: "Since his election, President Trump has been personally involved in helping to make LA’s bid a truly American bid and the White House Office of American Innovation and the US Senate and House of Representatives have been true partners throughout.
"The USOC and Los Angeles bid team greatly appreciate their strong commitment to bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to the United States."
LA mayor Eric Garcetti added: "This is a historic day for Los Angeles, for the United States and for the Olympic and Paralympic Movements around the world."
Paris has hosted the Olympics twice before and so has Los Angeles in 1932 and 1984. Following complaints about the costs of hosting the games the IOC have introduced reforms and both Los Angeles and Paris will use a record number of existing and temporary venues.
(c) Sky News 2017: Los Angeles reaches deal to host 2028 Olympics
