Paris, LA ecstatic after Olympic award
We have the two best possible Games for the Olympics in 2024 and 2028, in two great Olympic countries...I couldn’t be more happy.
Paris and Los Angeles celebrated their coronation as host cities for the 2024 and 2028 Olympics here on Wednesday, delivering a jolt of good news for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as it battles escalating corruption allegations.
In a drama-free conclusion to a three-year bidding race, IOC members voted unanimously to rubber-stamp a deal hashed out in July for Paris to be given 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.
The pre-ordained outcome did little to dampen celebrations inside the Lima Convention Centre, where Paris and Los Angeles officials cheered and congratulated each other.
IOC president Thomas Bach --a driving force behind the decision to confirm 2024 and 2028 at the same time --- hailed the joint award as a “win-win-win.”
“It’s a magical, unique victory,” said jubilant Paris 2024 bid co-leader Tony Estanguet as French President Emmanuel Macron saluted a “victory for France.”
Los Angeles 2028 leaders were equally ecstatic.
“This was the right answer, it was about fraternity, it was about friendship, it was about finding a win-win,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
IOC chief Bach meanwhile said the Olympic movement had secured the result “we were looking for.”
“I couldn’t be more happy than I am right now,” Bach said. “We have the two best possible games for the Olympics in 2024 and 2028, in two great Olympic countries.”
The vote marked the final act of a campaign that had been stripped of the usual intrigue ever since Paris and Los Angeles agreed to carve up 2024 and 2028 following encouragement from the IOC.
“We cracked the code when the IOC changed the formula,” said Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti.
“We’ve talked to a lot of folks who said it used to be about one corner of the room celebrating and the rest crying...I think we showed that dreams can come true.”
The smooth finish to the race also eliminates the risk of the vote being tainted by the sort of scandal that has embroiled the ballot for the 2016 Olympics.
IOC official Dick Pound, who has been critical of Bach’s handling of recent corruption and doping scandals, believes the movement can however have reason to celebrate after Wednesday’s joint award.
“You’ve got Paris and Los Angeles locked in for the next two games, on top of Tokyo,” Pound said.
“So that’s three first-class host cities in a row. That’s an excellent outcome.”