LA to bring Olympic Games to America in 2028

Los Angeles wins the bid for the 2028 Games. [Photo: sohu.com]

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Monday afternoon that the second largest city of the Untied States would bring Olympic and Paralympic Games back to the nation in 2028.

At a press conference in Stub Hub Center, the home to the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer, Garcetti declared that LA had intention to host the Olympic Games 2028 and had reached an agreement with the Host City Contract (HCC) 2028, which is a preliminary deal with International Olympic Committee (IOC) paving the way for the city to be awarded the 2028 Games.

Joined with City Council Chairman Herb Wesson, Bid committee Chairman Casey Wasserman and the US Women's Soccer Team, Garcetti did not disclose the details of the agreement, but hailed that bringing Olympic Games to the city was a historic achievement that would provide opportunities for young generation.

"LA 2028 will kick-start our drive to make LA the healthiest city in America, by making youth sports more affordable and accessible than ever before," Garcetti said. 

According to a press release sent to Xinhua by the Mayor's office Monday morning, under the terms of the HCC 2028, the IOC will advance funds to a Los Angeles Organizing Committee in view of the longer planning period and to increase participation and access to local youth sports programs in the 11 years before the Games.

"The IOC contribution as stipulated by the HCC is 1.8 billion U.S. dollars and has the potential to exceed 2 billion U.S. dollars according to the evaluation of the L.A. bid committee when taking into account the estimated value of existing sponsor agreements to be renewed and potential new marketing deals," the press release said.

Herb Wesson also said at the press conference, "The opportunity to again host the Games is a golden occasion further strengthening LA - not just through bricks and mortar, but through new opportunities for our communities to watch, play and benefit from support."

Alex Morgan, Athlete's Advisory Commission Member of the bid committee, echoed the speakers' vision, saying to host Olympic Games in 2028 would "bring sports to young people more than before" and would "shape the young people all of the world".

"The Games are coming back to a city that loves them, not just for their memories of past, but for their promise of a bright future for us all," the official Twitter of the LA 2028 Bid Committee posted after the press conference.

In a rare move, the IOC unanimously voted last month to announce the hosts for the 2024 and 2028 Olympic games at the same time. That means two competitors for 2024 Olympic, Paris and Los Angeles, each at least locked an opportunity. 

IOC officials then entered into negotiations with bid leaders from Los Angeles and Paris to determine which city will host the games in 2024 and which city must wait until 2028. 

After landing the deal with IOC, the Los Angeles City Council and United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors will consider the agreement for approval in August. 

If approved, the IOC, Los Angeles and Paris may enter a tripartite agreement, clearing the way for IOC Membership to simultaneously confirm the Olympic Games 2024 to Paris and the Olympic Games 2028 to LA at the next IOC session in Lima, Peru scheduled on Sept. 13.

Los Angeles has hosted the Summer Games for two times in history. The first was held in 1932 during the Great Depression. The 1984 Olympics in the second largest city was the first modern games that didn't leave behind large public debt. 

U.S. President Donald Trump congratulate LA's successful bid for the 2028 Games in a press release Monday evening, saying "for the first time in a generation, the Olympics are coming back to the United States, and I am proud to support LA 2028."