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L.A. 2024 Olympics: Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa submitted a letter confirming that L.A. would like to apply to host the Olympics in 2024, as his city is “proud” of its “sports heritage and tradition.”
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at a press conference on March 6, 2013 in Los Angeles, Calif. The mayor wants his city to host the Olympics in 2024. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants his city to host the 2024 Summer Games.
“On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, I am pleased to confirm out enthusiastic interest in bidding to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said in a letter to Scott Blackmun, the head of the U.S. Olympic Committee, according to the Los Angeles Times on Thursday.
“Our City Council passed a resolution of support for a 2024 bid….. We are proud of our city’s sports heritage and tradition, and we stand ready to work with you to bring the Olympic Games back to the United States,” the mayor’s letter continued.
Los Angeles last hosted the Olympics in 1984, while Atlanta was the last U.S. city to host them, doing so in 1996.
The Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution to support a hosting bid for the 2024 Olympics in 2012.
Villaraigosa attached a letter from the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, which included signatures from Magic Johnson, Tom Hanks, Barry Sanders, and others.
“We have an international population that I think would embrace the Games,” David Simon, head of the Southern California committee, told the Orange County Register on Thursday.
Villaraigosa’s bid comes just a few days after Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said that it would be “far-fetched” to get the Olympics to his city.
“I’d also be concerned about the cost of it and what it costs to taxpayers of the city of Boston. Just to apply, to be considered costs $6 to 8 million—not refundable either,” he told WBUR radio this week. “So that’s $6 to 8 million that was used of public funds to apply for consideration for the Olympics. At this time, I think it’s a far-fetched idea, and just wish that I knew about it before it was in the paper.”
The Olympic Committee sent letters out to the mayors of 35 large American cities last month, asking if they had any interest in hosting the games. The host for the 2024 Olympics will not be selected until 2017.
“Our objective in this process is to identify a partner city that can work with us to present a compelling bid to the IOC and that has the right alignment of political, business and community leadership,” said Blackmun, according to the Register. “We are seeking a partner that understands the value of the Olympic Games and the legacy that can be created not only for their community, but for our country.”
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