LA 2024, LA84 Foundation and County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas screen film "Race" celebrating Olympic hero Jesse Owens for 300 young Angeleno athletes

LA 2024 and the LA84 Foundation jointly sponsored a special screening of the Jesse Owens biopic "Race" at Regal LA Live Stadium 14 to an audience of 300 young Angelenos on Thursday night, to demonstrate the success that can be achieved in sport and life through perseverance and dedication. The screening was also sponsored by the office of County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and was followed by a question and answer session with Olympians Sherri Howard and Jamie Nieto, as well as a photo opportunity with a 1936 Olympic torch. The event was the latest collaboration between LA 2024 and the LA84 Foundation, as the Candidature Committee looks to support ongoing efforts to sustain positive legacies from the last time Los Angeles hosted the Games in 1984 and engage a new generation of young people through sport and Olympism.

The screening comes after the launch of the bid’s Follow the Sun slogan and logo at a ceremony at the USC Downtown skyscraper, during which LA 2024 pledged its commitment to bring a spirit of relentless reinvention and new beginnings to the Olympic Movement and connect with youth audiences worldwide.

LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman said: "LA 2024 promises a new Games for a new era of the Olympic Movement, but three decades of legacy from the 1984 Games still plays a big role in our city. It's incredibly inspiring to see that, as we look to harness Angelenos’ passion for the Olympic Games with our vision for 2024, young people are still living the benefits of a 32-year Olympic legacy program every single day."

President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation Renata Simril said: "Jesse Owens broke a number of barriers in his life and at the 1936 Olympic Games. His life story is inspiring and a perfect vehicle to remind young people of the power of sport to change perceptions and empower individuals. The LA84 Foundation, a legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games, is making a profound impact on the lives of young people across the region by providing opportunities for them to be involved in sport. Since 1984 we have invested more than $225 million for this purpose across Southern California and have served almost 4 million youth. We are delighted to be collaborating with LA 2024 on this latest project with an eye on the future and the potential to build a new legacy after LA once again hosts the Games. In January we announced $1.3 million to 26 organizations serving over 38,000 youth, so LA 2024’s call to Follow the Sun comes at the perfect moment to give youth sports fresh impetus."

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said: "As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s important that we take a moment to step back and celebrate individuals like Jesse Owens. I hope this movie inspires our youth to believe that they, too, can achieve their dreams, as Jesse Owens did."

LA 2024 Vice Chair and Director of Athlete Relations Janet Evans said: "Thursday's event really sums up what our bid has to offer the Olympic Movement: using inspirational athletes and the power and reach of Hollywood to get young people excited about sport and connected to the Olympic Movement. LA and Southern California is home to over 1,000 Olympians and Paralympians who come here to take advantage of year-round sunshine and an expansive portfolio of world-class sports infrastructure. Happily, these inspirational athletes are eager to give back to the region and the communities which have welcomed them so warmly, and they are going to play a big role in building on the huge public support we already have for LA 2024."

Two-time Olympian Jamie Nieto said: "An LA 2024 Games is a really exciting proposition for athletes around the world and it was a privilege to join in with a Q&A with the kids, who will hopefully feel inspired by the movie and by LA 2024’s invitation to ‘Follow the Sun’. I am sure this can, and will, help generate excitement among young people all over Southern California and beyond."

For more information visit la24.org, la84.org, ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov, focusfeatures.com/race and regmovies.com

LA 2024 can also be found on the following social media channels:

Twitter.com/LA2024

Facebook.com/LA2024

Instagram.com/LA2024

YouTube.com/LA2024

snapchat.com/add/la2024

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