Los Angeles declares candidature to host Olympic Games 2028

The Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic bid committee announced its candidature to host Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028.

In a release sent to Xinhua by the city mayor's office, Los Angeles, the second largest city of the US declared its intention to host the Olympic Games 2028 and its agreement with the Host City Contract 2028, which is a preliminary deal with International Olympic Committee (IOC) paving the way for the city to be awarded the 2028 Games.

"The Los Angeles City Council and United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors will consider the agreement for approval in August. If approved, the IOC, LA and Paris may enter a tripartite agreement, clearing the way for IOC Membership to simultaneously confirm the Olympic Games 2024 to Paris and the Olympic Games 2028 to Los Angeles at the next IOC session in Lima, Peru on September 13, 2017," it said on Monday.

In a rare move, the IOC unanimously voted last Month to announce the bid winner of the 2024 and 2028 Olympic games at the same time. That means two competitors for 2024 Olympic, Paris and Los Angeles, each at least locked an opportunity.

IOC officials then entered into negotiations with bid leaders from Los Angeles and Paris to determine which city will host the games in 2024 and which city must wait until 2028.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti hailed Monday as "an historic day for Los Angeles, for the United States and for the Olympic and Paralympic Movements around the world."

"Today, we take a major step toward bringing the Games back to our city for the first time in a generation and begin a new chapter in Los Angeles' timeless Olympic story." he said in the press release.

Los Angeles has hosted the Summer Games for two times in history. The first was held in 1932 during the Great Depression. The 1984 Olympics in the second largest city was the first modern games that didn't leave behind large public debt.

"LA 2028 will kick-start our drive to make LA the healthiest city in America, by making youth sports more affordable and accessible than ever before," Garcetti said.

--IANS

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