Olympics: Los Angeles City Council approves MOU

(SFC) The Los Angeles City Council today unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Los Angeles 2024 which will formalize the city’s commitment with the bid and will outline its role in the candidature process. Back in September the City Council voted 15-0 unanimously to support the Los Angeles Olympic Bid.

Los Angeles 2024 Chairman, Casey Wasserman, was thrilled at the news, “On behalf of LA 2024, I would like to thank the LA City Council for their leadership and collaboration as we work to earn the honor of hosting the 2024 Games.

“Our dream, and the city’s dream, is to deliver an outstanding Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024, and to do so in a way that fits the long-term needs of our city and its residents. Achieving this is only possible with the city’s support.

“We look forward to plenty more collaboration with the City Council in the months and, hopefully, years to come.”

Importantly the MOU emphasizes LA 2024’s plan for private funding and gets the city off the hook from committing city funds without the city’s approval. It also holds the leaders to commit to meeting regularly with the city all during the bid process.

“Los Angeles is a true Olympic City and one of the greatest sports cities in the world,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “I applaud the City Council’s leadership today, approving the MOU, which brings us one step closer to returning the Olympic Games to our City.

“Los Angeles is ready to serve and strengthen the Olympic movement and build a new Olympic legacy.”

Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson added, “This morning’s action paves the way for the continued collaboration between the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles 2024. Together we are ready to bring a historic third Olympic games to the City of Angels.”

Los Angeles is bidding against Budapest, Paris and Rome to host the 2024 summer Games and if they win they will bring the Games back to the city 28 years after LA 1984. The biggest legacy of those Games was the LA84 Foundation that has given over $221 million back into the community to foster the growth of grassroots sport.

More than 3 million boys and girls, and more than 1,100 youth sports organizations throughout Southern California have benefited from the legacy.

**LAURA WALDEN has over twenty-five years of experience in the Olympic Movement, formerly at the European Olympic Committees with SportEurope under former IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge and IOC Member Mario Pescante. She worked with the Rome 2004 and Turin 2006 Olympic bids and also managed PR & media for Dr. Jacques Rogge during his campaign for the presidency.

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