L.A. mayor, French president woo IOC for Summer Games host role

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND» The president of France spoke of a world needing Olympic values. The mayor of Los Angeles said his hometown could again be the “ideal Olympic city.”

Emmanuel Macron and Eric Garcetti offered a vision Monday at the Olympic Museum of why Paris and Los Angeles should host the Summer Games. Both want the Games in 2024; one will have to accept 2028.

In separate visits two hours apart, Macron and Garcetti each shared a stage — and later a hug — with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach. Tuesday, Bach’s hope that both candidates will win one of two Olympic hosting roles should be fulfilled.

The full IOC membership will first see both candidate cities present their hosting plans for 2024. Then, the members will probably endorse Bach’s proposal to award two Summer Games at once when they next meet Sept. 13 in Lima, Peru.

“This will create a win-winwin situation for L.A., Paris and the entire Olympic movement,” the IOC president said, standing beside Garcetti.

There is little doubt both cities can be celebrating by lateafternoon Tuesday.

Still, a deal to decide which will host first, and which must wait four more years should take longer to resolve.

Paris is widely viewed as the favorite for 2024, its third Olympic host role exactly 100 years since the previous edition there.

Macron brought his star quality to the Olympic capital city to open a bid campaign event that typically does not lure heads of state.

Even the rain that began falling as the Paris delegation arrived at the museum allowed Macron to shine.

The charismatic French president held his own umbrella that helped keep his wife, Brigitte, dry on the walk up dozens of steps through landscaped gardens, past Olympic-themed statutes to a photo call at the entrance.

After a one-hour visit, Macron talked of the Olympic Games’ place in a troubled world to “bring friendship between nations.”

“We need the values of peace, liberty and tolerance that the Olympic movement illustrates and embodies strongly,” he said in a four-minute speech.

IOC members will ultimately vote in Lima to confirm the host roles for 2024 and 2028.