(ATR) The destiny of the Summer Olympics and Paralympics is set for the next 11 years.
Paris will host the 2024 Games while Los Angeles takes 2028.
The IOC selected both cities at the same time at the session in Lima, Peru today. The double award capped what has been an agonizing two-year process for the IOC that began with a troubled field of candidates for the 2024 Games.
As many as six cities were involved as bidders. Last year at this time the field included four cities: Los Angeles, Paris, Budapest and Rome. With failing public and government support the latter two dropped out, leaving Paris and Los Angeles as the last two cities standing.
Calling it a "golden opportunity", a "win win win situation for Paris, Los Angeles and the IOC", President Thomas Bach drew applause from the IOC membership when he announced that all sides had agreed to the Tripartite Agreement that made the award for 2024 and 2028 possible.
Despite the certainty of the outcome, both cities made presentations to the IOC that set out their plans for the Games.
Unlike past elections for Olympic host cities when these final presentations might have made a difference in the IOC vote, neither city had to worry about losing.
The 83 members of the IOC in Lima gathered in a presentation room set up especially for the host city decision. The teams from both cities were seated at the front of the room for the final presentations, unlike the past when they came in one by one and left the room.
Paris delivered the first presentation, it’s team clad in white and red. Mayor Anne Hidalgo, the highest ranking elected official in Lima for the bid, spoke in Spanish, reflecting her own heritage from Spain. In English, Hidalgo promised Olympics that would be transforming not just for Paris, but other cities across the world.
Tony Estanguet, leader of the Paris bid and the closing speaker for the French team, said the effort he leads is built on the promise of sharing.
The Los Angeles presentation featured IOC members Anita DeFrantz, Larry Probst, who is also president of the U.S. Olympic Committee and Angela Ruggiero, chair of the IOC Athletes Commission.
Casey Wasserman, chair of the bid, wearing sneakers with his suit, promised to deliver Games that will be "California cool".
Mayor Eric Garcetti told the IOC members that his city had no idea when it launched this campaign for the third Olympics for Los Angeles that it would lead to the 2028 Games.
"But from the outset of our bid, we’ve held fast to the notion that LA’s primary objective was to do what was best for the Olympic Movement.
"To be honest, we did not imagine that would include changing our bid from 24 to 28. But, our willingness – and our ability to do so is, I hope, a reflection of our commitment to you," he said.
Written and reported in Lima by Ed Hula.
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