By Emily Goddard

The Los Angeles board of supervisors will now send a letter to the USOC to formally put forward its interest in bidding for the 2024 GamesSeptember 18 - Los Angeles County Supervisors have unanimously voted to urge the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to submit a bid from the Californian city for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.

Los Angeles has previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984 - the 2024 Games would mark the 40th anniversary of the latter Games - and the board of supervisors will now send a letter to the USOC to formally put forward its interest and work with the private Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games (SCCOG) to develop a bid.

"Los Angeles is home to more Olympians than anywhere in the world, and has twice hosted the Summer Olympic Games," read the proposal written by board chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas.

"The traditional reverence for sport among Los Angelenos, combined with their vast creative infrastructure, make Los Angeles uniquely capable as an Olympic host.

"Los Angeles can draw deeply on its past and present strengths to stage the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024 in a way that both respects tradition and the Olympic Charter and introduces new and exciting approaches to this great worldwide celebration."

Earlier this year, Los Angeles became the first American city to formally register its interest in bidding for the 2024 event after the USOC send a letter to 35 cities to gauge their interest in putting themselves forward to bid for the Games.

Then Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke of Los Angeles' "enthusiastic interest" to put forward a bid, which, he said, already has the backing of the City Council and high profile figures such as actor Tom Hanks, Walt Disney chair Robert Iger and Barcelona 1992 basketball gold medallist Magic Johnson.

The 2024 Games would mark the 40th anniversary of the Los Angeles 1984 OlympicsThe 2024 Games would mark the 40th anniversary of the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics


Speaking to insidethegames today, SCCOG chair Barry Sanders reiterated that the city has "totally unanimous support" in going for the Summer Games with a "new, different and bold plan" if the USOC decides to submit a bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

He also used the example of London, having now hosted the Olympics on three separate occasions, to illustrate that a third Olympics in Los Angeles would bring many benefits for the Olympic Movement.

"London has now done it [hosted an Olympics] three times and done it so wonderfully that they've dispelled any notion that it can't be done three times," he explained.

"In addition to the positive nature of doing things differently you have the opposite positive which is bringing a sense of tradition that has always been a part of the Olympic Movement by having it in the same stadium where Opening Ceremonies have taken place before.

"We think our chances are as good as anybody's."

He also highlighted the fact that Los Angeles has many permanent sports venues already in place, which could not only prevent post-Olympic "white elephants" but also means the organising committee could instead focus its efforts on making the Games as athlete-centred as possible should the city bid and be awarded the Games.

Washington DC, Philadelphia, Dallas, Seattle and San Diego are among the other America cities said to be considering putting themselves forward as potential candidates to the USOC, which is planning to create a shortlist of two or three cities by this December.

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