L.A. Mayor: Next President Will Support 2024 Bid

(ATR) Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tells Around the Rings whoever becomes the next president of the United States will "squarely be behind the Los Angeles bid to bring the Olympic Games back to America".

"This is a moment where we all want to be more united, this is something that breaks down walls and all candidates by November will get that," Garcetti told ATR during a press conference at the Team USA Media Summit. "This is something that transcends politics."

"I know that the Paralympics and Olympics are something that touches our heart and any good President is going to follow that spirit."

The endorsement of the Los Angeles bid for the 2024 Games by the next President will be essential to bring the Games back to the U.S. for the first time in 28 years. LA 2024 must also convince the IOC to support the bid when it comes to a vote at the IOC Session in September 2017.

LA 2024 bid leader Casey Wasserman says convincing the IOC to select Los Angeles over Budapest, Paris and Rome will rely on the trust the bid team can build with IOC members.

"This is an election. I believe in any election people vote for the people they like, they know, they trust and respect. It’s our job as the bid leadership to take the next 17 months to do that with the IOC members that will be voting in 2017," says Wasserman.

Garcetti believes the L.A. bid is the perfect fit for the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms passed by the IOC in 2014.

"We think this bid is right squarely in line with Agenda 2020, which is about a sustainable vision both financially and environmentally," he says. "When you can say we’re only going to build one facility, that’s unique in the world. We think it’s a clear choice to be connected with the youth of California, the optimism and the technological innovation that are so much part of what the Olympics need in this changing world."

Garcetti and Wasserman spoke alongside vice chair of the bid Janet Evans during the first national press conference for LA 2024. The event was also live streamed on the LA 2024 Facebook page.

Evans introduced 30 Olympians and Paralympians who are part of the LA 2024 Athletes Advisory Council featuring athletes such as Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, Candace Cable and IOC member Angela Ruggiero.

Evans says the AAC will consist of 53 Olympians and Paralympians who collectively have won 216 Olympic and Paralympic medals. Evans says it is now the athletes turn to give back to the movement that gave so much to them.

"We athletes have a special responsibility, not only to each other, but to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, to promote the values and ideals of the movement. I am so humbled to be a part of this team and a part of the history that we all share as Olympians and Paralympians," said Evans.

On top of the support of its AAC, the L.A. bid is seeking the support of Olympians and Paralympians across the United States.

"I am asking every athlete in America who has ever competed in the Olympic or Paralympic Games to help us by lending their voices of support in their local communities to bring the Games back to the United States of America," said Evans.

The AAC will coordinate with athletes across the country to hold town hall meetings to drum up support for the bid, beginning the tour in Atlanta as a tribute to the 20th anniversary of the 1996 Olympics, the last time the Summer Games were held on U.S. soil.

Evans says the contributions of the thousands of Olympians and Paralympians in the U.S. will help make the LA 2024 bid the most athlete-centered Games plan ever.

Written by Kevin Nutley in Los Angeles, California.

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