Los Angeles could capture the Olympics it doesn’t really want

Los Angeles could lose and win its Olympics gamble, ending up with the 2028 Games it never sought and the costly prospect of retooling its multibillion-dollar plans for more than a decade into the future.

In an atmosphere of uncertainty, International Olympic Committee leaders yesterday began three days of meetings and site visits to weigh LA’s plans for the 2024 Games in its showdown with rival Paris. A decision is scheduled for September.

The two cities are the only remaining bidders after a string of embarrassing withdrawals by Rome, Hamburg and Budapest. Looking to avoid another messy competition, the International Olympic Committee has made an unusual proposal to award the next two Olympics, 2024 and 2028, one to each city.

LA organisers have publicly winced at the 2028 option — as with Paris, they say they are bidding only for 2024. The consolation prize would not only be a disappointment in LA, it would leave the city with challenges from maintaining public interest to recasting deals for stadiums, arenas and housing that have been in the works for months and even years.

Remaking LA’s plan for 2028 “would take an awesome amount of work because all of the conversa- tions, all of the negotiations, all the plans, have been built around 2024,” said Gary Toebben, who heads the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “There is a tremendous amount of expense involved in another four years,” he said.

By some accounts, the IOC would have to amend its rules to impose a split decision, and it’s not clear if there are votes to make the change. Also, expanding the September decision to include 2028 could anger countries that had plans to bid on those Games.

“There may be cities out there that did not bid for 2024, thinking they would bid for 2028. Those would be the aggrieved cities,” said Barry Sanders, chairman of the Southern California Committee For The Olympic Games, a nearly 80-year-old civic group that supports the Olympics movement.

Another potential snag: If LA is awarded the 2028 Games, it apparently would need to renegotiate and extend financial guarantees approved by the city and state to cover potential shortfalls in 2024.

Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation in September that puts California taxpayers on the hook for up to $250 million if Los Angeles is awarded the 2024 Games and they run over budget. “Are they willing to give a guarantee that goes out 11 years?” asked Sanders, referring to 2028. “Financial matters over 11 years are hard to predict.”

IOC members are spending three days in Los Angeles touring proposed venues, including the historic Rose Bowl and LA Memorial Coliseum. Both were used in the 1932 and 1984 Games hosted by the city.

Los Angeles is pledging to stage the Games for US$5.3 billion ($7.75b), which would be around one-third of what Tokyo expects to spend for 2020. On the flip side, a delay might have benefits for LA. The city is in the midst of a transit-building boom, and four more years would mean more time to build rail lines.