Los Angeles 2024 chairman Casey Wasserman and chief strategy officer Angela Ruggiero both participated at the world-renowned MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference ©Casey Wasserman/Twitter

Los Angeles 2024 chairman Casey Wasserman and chief strategy officer Angela Ruggiero both participated at a world-renowned conference as part of the Californian city's plans for an "athlete-centered" Olympic and Paralympic Games.


The pair were in attendance at the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan Sports Analytics Conference to highlight the American bid.

Wasserman and Ruggiero, who is also chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission and a member of the IOC Executive Board, shared ideas with sports industry leaders about how technology can enhance every aspect of the athlete experience.

They spoke on panels during the conference programme, which was geared towards exploring the future of sport and the sports industry.

LA 2024 bid team members claim to have gained valuable insights on the next generation of innovations that could benefit Olympians and Paralympians in 2024, ranging from training and performance to new media and brand building.

With no new permanent venues to construct in the event that Los Angeles is successful in its campaign, LA 2024 say they will have the time and resources to put these "leading-edge advances" at the service of athletes during the Games.

"The US and Southern California in particular are at the forefront of global technological innovation," Wasserman said.

"If LA is awarded the honour of hosting the 2024 Games, we will be able to harness our leadership in technology and innovation to create the best athlete experience in history.

"Having no new permanent venues to build means LA 2024 will have more time and resources dedicated to technology and new thinking that enhance athletes' preparation, their enjoyment and ultimately their performance at the most important moment of their careers."

Angela Ruggiero, LA 2024's chief strategy officer, participated at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference ©Getty Images
Angela Ruggiero, LA 2024's chief strategy officer, participated at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference ©Getty Images

Ruggiero added: "LA 2024 is always looking for opportunities and partnerships that can make a positive contribution to the Olympic Movement long after 2024.

"Events like the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference underline the wealth of talent on our doorstep here in the United States and we have heard some fascinating ideas about what is next for the global sports industry.

"At LA 2024 our objective is not just to keep pace with the sports industry; we want to help the Olympic Movement take the lead in the creative application of new technologies to sports performance and worldwide youth engagement."

In their bid book, LA 2024 have claimed they will "increase opportunities" for all International Federations by "harnessing the strength of the California and United States markets".

Wasserman has vowed to give athletes the "experience of a lifetime" at the Olympic Village, which would be located at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), with the Bid Committee stressing how their concept is athlete-centered.

He has also pointed to the fact that they do not need to construct from scratch an Olympic Village, considered one of the more expensive building projects in any Games bid.

Only Los Angeles and Paris remain in a two-horse race for the Games with the vote scheduled to take place in Peru's capital Lima on September 13.

The IOC Evaluation Commission are set to visit the candidate cities, with Los Angeles due to be the first assessed from April 23 to 25.

A final report will then be given to all IOC members and made public in advance of the Candidate City 2024 Briefing for IOC members and Summer Olympic International Federations on July 11 and 12.