IOC to Vote on Dual Award in Lausanne Next Month

(ATR) The IOC will award two Olympic Games at its 2017 Session in Lima if its members approve a plan in July.

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(ATR) A new era of selecting hosts for the Olympics is set to begin at an Extraordinary IOC Session next month.

Sweeping changes for the selection process for the Summer and Winter Olympic Games have been proposed following a day long meeting of the IOC Executive Board in Lausanne.

In what Thomas Bach called a "golden opportunity" for the Olympic movement, the most anticipated decision calls for the IOC to select in tandem the hosts for the 2024 and 2028 Olympics. Paris and Los Angeles are the only two cities left in what was originally the contest for the 2024 Games alone.

The proposal was announced by Bach at a press conference follow an "intense and good day," for the Executive Board.

Before such a reality can happen, the membership must vote on the new proposal presented by the IOC Executive Board. Bach called for an Extraordinary IOC Session on July 11-12 in Lausanne, where the membership will debate and vote on the proposal.

The IOC still has work to do to craft the proposal which the members will vote on. Bach told reporters that the working group, consisting of the four IOC Vice-Presidents, will continue its work drafting the specifics and logistics of the dual award. Once the membership approves the proposal, then dialogue would begin with both the Los Angeles and Paris 2024 bid teams.

Bach says the Olympic Charter would not have to be amended to pursue such an arrangement, suggesting the possibility that the dual Lima vote would be an anomaly. With Paris making a fourth bid for the Olympics and the U.S. making a third recent bid for the Games, the IOC is not willing to allow either city to leave empty-handed from the IOC Session in Lima this September when the final vote is cast.

"First of all the IOC members have to express themselves about this proposal coming from the executive board, and only after the members of the IOC have this opportunity, then it will be the time to enter into deeper discussions with the candidate cities," Bach said, trying to curtail speculation on any prearranged award.

"Then discussions and negotiations may start if the IOC members should hopefully give a green light."

Bach brushed aside concerns about whether each of the candidate cities would be willing to accept the 2028 Olympic Games after bidding for 2024. Bach called the outcome of any vote "a present" for a city bidding for the Olympics.

"Then this city would get the rights to host the Olympic Games without the risk of a defeat in an election procedure," Bach said. "This would be a win-win situation. [It is] a win for the candidate city and a win for the IOC. This would put this city on an equal basis with the 2024 city."

Intrigue now shifts to the candidate cities, which must align themselves with the new IOC strategic vision.

Speculation over the dual award came this week after Los Angeles released a statement pledging to help the Olympic Movement, while Paris reiterated a 2028 award would not be possible for the city.

After the decision Paris 2024 released a statement in support of the IOC saying it would "continue to work hard to win the support of IOC Members and the broader sports family for a Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

"We believe that the IOC is acting in the best interests of the Olympic Movement and the future of the Games in taking these steps," Paris 2024 said. "Paris 2024 remains totally focused on preparing its presentation to the Lausanne meeting where we will have an opportunity to present to all the IOC Members our proposal for centenary Games of passion and purpose."

Los Angeles 2024 said in its statement that the city remains an "ideal partner" for the IOC and is eager to see the full membership in July.

"We welcome the IOC Executive Board's decision to recognize two excellent bids from two of the world's greatest cities," Casey Wasserman, LA 2024 chairman, and Eric Garcetti, Mayor of LA, said in a joint statement. "With no new permanent venues to build and unwavering public support, Los Angeles is an eternal Olympic city and ideal partner for the IOC.

"We look forward to…working together to offer the best path forward for our city and the Olympic Movement's future."

Written by Ed Hula and Aaron Bauerwith reporting in Lausanne by Brian Pinelli.

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