(ATR) On a day when the Rio 2016 Olympics are in the spolight, Los Angeles has its sight set further down the road.
Leaders of the Los Angeles 2024 Olympic bid accompanied California business leaders to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday as much of the world focused on the 100-day countdown to the Rio 2016 Summer Games this August. The bid team tagged along on the annual Access D.C. trip organized by the Chamber of Commerce to advocate for the city and state on Capitol Hill.
"The morning started with a presentation on the bid from Casey [Wasserman] and then we went to Capitol Hill where we held a news conference to introduce the Congressional resolution of support for LA 2024," LA 2024 spokesperson Jeff Millman tells Around the Rings.
Representatives from California Lucille Roybal-Allard, Alan Lowenthal and Adam Schiff announced the bipartisan resolution with LA 2024 bid leaders Casey Wasserman, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and vice-chair Janet Evans.
"The Congress of the United States expresses the sincere hope that the United States will be selected as the site for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and pledges its cooperation and support toward their successful fulfillment in the highest sense of the Olympic tradition," the resolution states.
Millman says the resolution will be introduced in the House of Representatives soon with a vote expected to come during this session and pass with bipartisan support.
"LA 2024 represents the right event in the right city at the right moment for the United States, and that is why it has earned bipartisan backing in Congress," said Congressman Steve Knight.
Wasserman tells ATR the support of the federal government is instrumental towards bringing the Summer Olympics back to the United States for the first time since 1996.
"To host an event of the magnitude of the Games requires in many ways just unbelievable coordination at the local, state and federal levels of government," he says. "We’ve obviously had tremendous support from the local and state level and today was an amazing show of support from the federal level."
Wasserman says he expects the resolution to pass without a hitch. Millman tells ATR the resolution is already being well received by members of Congress and won't be affected by the current Presidential and Congressional campaigns.
"In terms of Congressional support, it was introduced by two Los Angeles bipartisan Congress members from California and it is already attracting support from members across the country," he says.
"This is not only Los Angeles’ bid; it is America’s bid. We are the nation’s home team for the Olympic and Paralympic Games."
Although the Congressional support is just beginning to surface, Millman tells ATR the bid has had the support of the White House since day one.
"On the first day when Los Angeles was chosen by the USOC, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama put out a statement of support for our bid," he says. "We’ve had strong engagement with the federal government throughout the bid."
LA 2024 leaders will remain in D.C. through Friday to meet with federal government officials in the White House, Congress, Secret Service and Defense Department, among others.
LA 2024 also participated in the 100 days to Rio 2016 celebrations organized by the U.S. Olympic Committee in New York City. The bid leaders were among the crowd Tuesday night with USOC president Larry Probst at worldwide Olympic sponsor Bridgestone’s event at the Museum of Modern Art.
"It’s the 100 days to go; it’s the prize we’re all going for. It’s an exciting milestone and it points everyone in the direction to Rio, we are happy to be part of the celebration," Wasserman tells ATR.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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