(ATR) The race for 2024 heats up in humid Lausanne as delegations from Paris and Los Angeles put finishing touches on presentations that will be made to the full IOC membership – for the first time – on Tuesday.
President Bach welcomed the two delegations – 13 members from Paris 2024 and 11 from Los Angeles 2024 – on Monday at the Olympic Museum. French president Emmanuel Macron heads the Paris 2024 group, while Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti leads LA 2024.
Bach met with the LA delegation first.
Bach praised LA bidding concept and its fit with Agenda 2020 reforms with a focus on cost reductions.
Speaking about Wednesday's IOC Session vote, Bach said it would be a "win win win for LA, Paris and the entire Olympic Movement" if IOC members gave the green light for a double allocation of the 2024 and 2028 Games in Lima.
LA mayor Eric Garcetti noted the high ranking given by the IOC evaluation commission in its report released last week.
He said LA had set out with two missions - "to bring the Olympics back to America and the U.S. back to the Olympics".
Echoing Bach's phrasing, he said the opportunity to have the next two Games in LA and Paris was a "win win win". The order, though, remains to be determined.
Garcetti, like Bach, looked and sounded relaxed as the cameras flashed and reporters watched on at the Olympic Museum.
The weather turned for the arrival of French president Emmanuel Macron at the Olympic museum where he was welcomed by IOC chief Thomas Bach.
The IOC photo call with Paris 2024 took place under leaden skies with the rain coming down.
Thunder followed as Macron held talks with Bach before the pair gave statements to media.
Addressing reporters after their meeting Bach, speaking in French, spoke about Macron's passion for sport and paid tribute to his work for the bid.
He noted the unity of French political support for the bid.
Responding in his native tongue, Macron underlined the country's unity and his enthusiasm for the French capital's quest to land the 2024 Olympics.
In this troubled world, he said Olympic values were more important than ever. "We come to you with pride, determination and humility," he said.
He ended with a smile to Bach saying "viva Olympism" before hugging the IOC president. Earlier Garcetti also received a warm embrace from Bach.
With the French president in Lausanne, security in the Olympic capital is extremely tight.
About 250 journalists are accredited for the busy week in the Olympic capital. The candidate city briefings and IOC Extraordinary Session are on Tuesday, followed by Paris and Los Angeles showcasing their bids through interactive rooms where they can display models, show bid videos and interact with IOC members and members of the media on Wednesday.
LA 2024 has the honors at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning at the Swiss Tech as it will make a 45-minute presentation to IOC members and presidents of the international summer sport federations. A 30-minute Q&A will follow.
According to LA 2024, the presentation will address the bid’s overall vision for a new Games for a new era that helps the Olympic and Paralympic Movements engage the world’s youth and secures the long-term financial sustainability of the Olympic Movement. With Olympic Agenda 2020 as a guiding principle, LA 2024 will try to emphasize its potential to redefine Olympic sustainability, with no permanent venues to build and a low-risk, transparent budget.
"Our Games Plan fits perfectly with the unstoppable forward momentum of our city; our communities are excited about the prospect of welcoming the world and experiencing the unique long-term benefits of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Los Angeles mayor Garcetti.
Joining Garcetti in Lausanne is the LA 2024 senior leadership team of chairman Casey Wasserman, CEO Gene Sykes and vice chairs Janet Evans and Candace Cable. Also in Lausanne are the United States’ three IOC Members, Anita De Frantz, Angela Ruggiero and Larry Probst, along with USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. Olympic track and field stars Allyson Felix and Michael Johnson will also try to make a contribution.
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Paris 2024 will follow its rival’s briefing and Q&A session at the Convention Center on the outskirts of Lausanne.
Bid co-chairman and IOC member Tony Estanguet addressed the significance of having France’s new president in Lausanne as part of the team to bring the Games back to the French capital one century after it last hosted.
"Paris 2024 arrives in Lausanne as a strong and united team. This is a bid driven by France’s sports movement and our athletes in full partnership with the National Olympic Committee, the city, the region and national government," Estanguet said.
"We are delighted France’s head of state, President Macron, will be taking a leading role and emphasizing his commitment to the project. We want to make clear that Paris 2024 is a priority for the city and the nation."
Accompanying Macron and Estanguet are Paris 2024 co-chair Bernard Lapasset, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, eight Olympians and Paralympians and other sports figures.
The IOC Extraordinary Session on Tuesday will discuss the proposal of the Executive Board to award the Olympic Games 2024 and 2028 at the same time, as well as other items within its remit.
Written by Brian Pinelli and Mark Bisson in Lausanne
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