IOC to Receive Update on 2024 Bid Cities

(ATR) The IOC executive board will hear from its 2024 Host City evaluation commission on Thursday as the bid cities try to enter stage two of the race.

Budapest, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome all submitted their first candidature files to the IOC in February to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. The stage one submission focused on the overall Vision, Games Concept and Strategy of each bid.

The evaluation commission will discuss the analyses of the four submissions with the IOC executives tomorrow prior to determining whether each city will be allowed to remain in the race. It is unlikely that any of the candidates will be rejected at this stage.

Each city that is cleared to continue will ramp up efforts towards completing its second candidature file that will cover more of the minutia of the bids, including Governance, Legal and Venue Funding. The second bid file is due to the IOC by Oct. 7.

Stage three focusing on Delivery, Experience and Venue Legacy will begin in December and will conclude at the September 2017 IOC Session in Lima, Peru with the selection of the 2024 Host City.

Around the Rings is on the scene in Lausanne and will provide all of the latest updates throughout the the three-day meeting.

Rome 2024 Chairman Shrugs off Mayoral Candidate against Bid

Rome 2024 president Luca di Montezemolo says the bid will not consult with the favorite to become the next Mayor of Rome unless she is elected.

"We will wait for the new Mayor to be elected and then we will have a friendly discussion," Montezemolo said while at a seminar about how the Roman Olympic bid can bolster architecture in the city and surrounding areas.

As the Mayoral election on June 5 nears, leader of the Five Star Movement Virginia Raggi is considered the frontrunner in the election. Raggi has also publicly voiced her opposition to the Olympic bid due to large cost concerns, even referring to Montezemolo as a "a criminal who thinks Rome should host the Olympics despite the debt of the city".

Despite previously meeting with the Italian Olympic Committee leaders on May 9, Montezemolo says neither the bid nor CONI will hold further discussions with the frontrunner.

"I have too much respect for the electoral process, the important thing is to stay out of it," he added.

"Here we have a dream that we must pursue with great passion moving forward. Rome needs a challenge, a goal."

Paris 2024 Welcomes Economic Benefit Study

The Center for Law and Economics of Sport at the University of Limoges published a new report suggesting that the Paris 2024 Summer Games could generate roughly $12 billion in benefits to the city and surrounding region.

The report also suggests the Games could bring an excess of 250,000 jobs to the Ile-de-France region.

"As we continue to develop our bid for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the results of this study are very encouraging," said Paris 2024 co-chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"Beyond the wonderful festival of sport that the Games would bring, there is a real opportunity for the whole of France to benefit from an economic point of view but also in terms of a lasting social legacy for all of our citizens."

The bid team along with the French National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, City of Paris and the Ile-de-France region will now begin work on a White Paper that will highlight the social benefits of the bid and determine legacy goals.

Budapest 2024 Receives Support of Hotel Chains

The largest Hungarian hotel chains signed an agreement with the Budapest 2024 bid committee offering the support of Hungarian hotels to the cause on Wednesday.

"Not only will the Olympics and Paralympics boost the Hungarian economy, create jobs and promote a healthier lifestyle, it guarantees the long-term development of Budapest and Hungary," said deputy Mayor of professional life Szalay Bobrovniczky Alexandra.

Budapest 2024 chairman Balázs Furjes says the agreement is "favorable" and "mutually beneficial".

"There will be many more businessmen and tourists to visit the Hungarian capital during the Games than ever before and I think that today’s 3.5 million visitors headcount would increase up to five million due to the Olympics," said Furjes.

President of the Hungarian Association of Hotels and Restaurants Niklai Akos also addressed the need to include smaller hotel chains so that the entire city of Budapest can "work as a team".

Written by Kevin Nutley

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