LA 2024 Using SportAccord to 'Listen and Learn' -- ATRadio

(ATR) Los Angeles 2024 bid leader Casey Wasserman tells Around the Rings the bid is using its opportunity at the annual SportAccord Convention to "listen and learn" from International Federation leaders and IOC members.

"I don’t think we’re in a position to be selling today, we’re in a position to ask for advice and perspective and ultimately build relationships," Wasserman tells ATR in the latest edition of ATRadio. "This is a 15-month process and it’s not just a moment in time."

The bidding procedure for the 2024 Summer Olympics was changed with the introduction of the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms by the IOC. All bid cities remain in the bidding race until the IOC vote in September 2017 under the new rules and give fewer presentations than in past bidding races. Wasserman says the new bidding process is a great benefit to bid cities.

"I think the sense that three presentations versus nine in the past is a significant benefit to the current bid cities to allow them to continue to work on their domestic planning if you will and secondly when they travel they can focus on building relationships as opposed to preparing for presentations."

To increase support for the city's bid domestically, Wasserman says the bid is focusing on using athletes to promote the Olympic effort.

"Athlete engagement, athlete feedback is an important part of our bidand we’re fortunate to have Olympic athletes all over our country,coaches, family, support staff and it’s important for us to engage thebroader sense of that community," Wasserman says.

"Our engagement with athlete meetings, Town Halls in Florida and all 50states by the time this is over with, this is a national effort."

Listen to the full interview with Wasserman and ATR editor Ed Hula below:

Written by Kevin Nutley

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