By Nick Butler

Denis Oswald encouraged European cities such as Paris to launch a bid for 2024 ©AFP/Getty ImagesA bid from the United States for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics will be "strong but not unbeatable", International Olympic Committee member Denis Oswald has claimed, calling for European cities to put themselves forward.


Following the signing of a long-term television contract between the IOC and broadcaster NBC Universal last month, many have concluded a US victory in the 2024 race is a foregone conclusion, despite the fact New York City and Philadelphia each withdrew potential bids last month. 

Los Angeles and San Francisco are the two favoured remaining candidates, with Boston, Dallas, San Diego and Washington DC still contenders, although this number is due to be whittled down by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) on June 10. 

But Oswald, who stood unsuccessfully for the IOC Presidency against Thomas Bach last September and remains President of the International Rowing Federation until being replaced by Jean-Christophe Rolland later this year, believes a US bid will not be an automatic success.

"You can never say that an Olympic bid is unbeatable," the 67-year-old Swiss, head of the IOC Coodination Commission for Athens 2004 and London 2012, told FrancsJeux.

"Remember the 1996 Games when Athens seemed sure to win?

"We were very surprised to see other cities in the race to start with, but eventually the Games were in Atlanta.

"For 2024, there is a hint that it is the United States's to have and their application will be strong, but the last records they submitted were not chosen.

"The United States will be strong but not unbeatable."

A Los Angeles bid for a Games taking place on the 40th anniversary of the successful 1984 edition remains a possibility ©Getty ImagesA Los Angeles bid for a Games taking place on the 40th anniversary of the successful 1984 edition remains a possibility ©Getty Images



Oswald claimed failure to host any Summer Olympics since Atlanta 1996 is not due to anti-Americanism in the IOC, as has been claimed, but simply because their bids have not been good enough.

He gave the example of the 2016 race when a bid launched by Chicago failed in the first round in 2009, despite the presence of new US President Barrack Obama at the IOC Session in Copenhagen, as Rio de Janeiro won the contest.

Oswald encouraged a potential bid from Paris for the Games, and described the recent unveiling of a feasibility study consisting of 12 working groups, as a "smart way" to go about a potential campaign.

"Before entering into battle, it is important to know what the Games mean for a city and a country," he said. 

"This is a smart way to go about it and we shall see the result of these cogitations."

But Oswald admitted there is a real fear over in Europe from cities bidding for future Games, given general public alienation with spending for an Olympics.

This has already seen a number of cities withdrew from the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic race, including Munich, Stockholm and Kraków.

Oslo remains in the 2022 race but is facing similar problems with public and Governmental support ©Getty ImagesOslo remains in the 2022 race but is facing similar problems with public and Governmental support ©Getty Images



Oswald blamed lack of communication more than anything else, but did warn that costs needed to be controlled. 

"It has perhaps been poorly explained that the Games itself is financed by private funds, not public spending," he told .FrancsJeux.

"But in some cases, projects can be beyond what is required in terms of investment. 

"A communication effort must be made, particularly by the IOC, but at the same time, the candidate cities must be limited to costs that they really need."