On the year’s longest day of sunshine, the Summer Solstice, LA 2024 today launches its #FollowTheSun to Olympic Agenda 2020 campaign: 20 activities in 20 days to show how LA 2024 can contribute to the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, Olympic Agenda 2020.
The #FollowTheSun to Olympic Agenda 2020 campaign will include community events, sports demonstrations and important announcements, each demonstrating why the LA 2024 Games Plan is not only aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020, but will help the IOC make tangible progress in its mission to safeguard the uniqueness of the Olympic Games and strengthen sport in society.
LA 2024 began the campaign today with a pop-up badminton match at the iconic Griffith Observatory as part of its Summer Solstice programming. Rio 2016 badminton Olympians Paula Obanana and Iris Wang and their USA Badminton teammates Kyle Emerick and Tuck Chan played a match in front of hundreds of LA 2024 supporters and visitors as the sun set over sweeping views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign.
Olympic Agenda 2020’s Recommendation 23 calls for engagement with communities, including youth and the general public. Today’s badminton match continues LA 2024’s ongoing work to harness California’s cultural and entertainment assets to foster an enduring connection to young people and create new Games enthusiasts - on this occasion bringing Olympians and Olympic sport to the site of countless Hollywood movies, most recently the hit musical La La Land.
LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman said: "LA 2024 is an invitation to the Olympic Movement to Follow The Sun to a bright future. So there is no better way to start our 20-day homage to the IOC’s future-focused Olympic Agenda 2020 roadmap than a Summer Solstice celebration on the year’s longest day of sunshine.
"Throughout our bid, events like this have shown what an oasis of Olympic optimism we have here in Southern California. With minimal costs, we have been able to engage this community in a celebration of sport and the Olympic Movement. An LA Games in 2024 will harness the best of Californian culture, entertainment and optimistic spirit and help the IOC to engage young people and communities worldwide."
LA 2024 CEO Gene Sykes said: "Olympic Agenda 2020 has guided our thought processes from day one. It has shaped every aspect of our planning, including selecting UCLA as our Games-ready Olympic and Parlaympic Village, and it has directed us in how we can best make a positive, long-term contribution to the Olympic Movement.
"LA 2024 simply would not be here if it was not for Olympic Agenda 2020’s renewed focus on smart, responsible, sustainable planning. With the strong foundations of a Games Plan fully in line with our city’s needs, LA 2024 is committed to supporting the implementation of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020 goals, from placing athletes at the heart of the Games to strengthening the role of Olympism in society."
Olympic badminton player Paula Obanana said: "Olympic Agenda 2020 is about making the Olympic Movement part of people’s lives every day of the year, not just a two-week show every four years. It is great to be part of the bid’s efforts to bring the Olympic spirit into the community - especially because people here in LA are so enthusiastic about the Games. LA 2024 is going to connect a new generation of young fans to sports they would not otherwise have a chance to experience. It is a really exciting opportunity."
For more information on the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms, please visit https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Documents/Olympic-Agenda-2020/Olympic-Agenda-2020-20-20-Recommendations.pdf#_ga=2.106596739.1843466312.1498005212-914456212.1496687258
For more information visit LA24.org.
LA 2024 can also be found on the following social media channels:
Twitter.com/LA2024
Facebook.com/LA2024
Instagram.com/LA2024
YouTube.com/LA2024
Snapchat.com/add/la2024
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