Baumann's appointments coincides with the IOC announcing a change in dates for the visit to Los Angeles following the withdrawal of Budapest to ensure there is less of a gap before the subsequent inspection of Paris.

The Evaluation Commission will now visit Los Angeles from May 10 to 12 before they travel to the French capital for an inspection between May 14 and 16.

The IOC Evaluation Commission had originally been due to visit Los Angeles between April 23 and 25 and then Budapest between May 10 and 12.  

Baumann,secretary general of the International Basketball Federation and President of SportAccord, was appointed to replace Frankie Fredericks on Tuesday (March 7) after the Namibian resigned following corruption allegations.

The IOC Ethics Commission and French prosecutors are both investigating payments a company linked to the former sprinter allegedly received three days before Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 OIympic and Paralympic Games in 2009.

Fredericks denies any wrongdoing but relinquished all IOC responsibilities - including his right to vote in the 2024 race - as the investigation unfolds.

"The circumstances are unfortunate as to how I took over, but I am looking forward to the role," Baumann told insidethegames.

"I was already on the Evaluation Commission but have now shifted to the position of chair."

Baumann predicted a close race between Los Angeles and Paris.

"I am happy to be in this position in a race between two important cities in the world," he said. 

"It should be an incredible contest."

Los Angeles and Paris are the only candidates left in what was originally a five-horse race after Hamburg, Rome and Budapest all withdrew.

Baumann, a member of the IOC Evaluation Commissions for the 2008 and 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, insists he will still have time to combine all of his responsibilities, despite an ever-expanding portfolio of responsibilities.

The Swiss lawyer is also President of the Organising Committee for the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games, as well as a Council member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations and a Foundation Board member of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

"I have very good Councils helping me with a lot of the work," he said.

Los Angeles had been due to be inspected from April 23 to 25 before a visit to Budapest had been scheduled, before the withdrawal, for May 10 to 12.

"The idea is to have both visits back to back, which is much easier for logistical reasons," the IOC confirmed.