The destinations for the next two Olympic Games in 2024 and 2028 have now officially confirmed after a conference by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland. The decision reached is that a double allocation will be made among the cities of Paris and Los Angeles, which means that both are guaranteed to host the next two Olympic and Paralympic Games after Tokyo 2020.
Representatives of both cities made presentations earlier today, after which the double allocation was taken. The vote was taken unanimously, in favour of the joint awarding via a Tripartite Commission. The negotiations and discussions regarding which city will host which edition are likely to begin tomorrow, with the final decision to be taken through voting on September 13 in Lima, Peru.
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Earlier in June, the IOC had unanimously approved a recommendation to award the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games at the same time. The two cities were the only ones left in the race for 2024 after Budapest, Hamburg and Rome withdrew.
Paris has missed out on the Olympics several times, most recently to London for 2012. If it the bid finally goes through, Roland Garros would stage tennis and boxing, and there would be beach volleyball on the Champ-de-Mars by the Eiffel Tower whilst the equestrian events will be held at Versailles.
Los Angeles hosted the Olympics in 1984 and offers a complete set of stadiums already in place. President Donald Trump also tweeted his support to the city’s bid.
The cycle of the awarding each Games is well established, with one winner at the end. There have been close losers with good credentials before, like Madrid for 2016, Paris for 2012 and Rome for 2004, but they were not awarded subsequent Games as a consolation prize.
A recognition of the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Paris Games, its near misses in the recent past, sympathy because of the recent terrorist attacks, and the international unpopularity of President Trump may tilt the scale in favour of Paris.
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If Paris is selected as the host of Summer Olympics 2024, it would tie London as the city to have hosted Summer Olympics the highest number of times at three, having previously hosted the Games in 1900 and 1924. Los Angeles will achieve the same feat of hosting the Olympics thrice if it gets to host in 2028, having previously hosted in 1932 and 1984.
