Four starters and a very very long road

France, Feb 19, 2016: A marathon. And even more in a row. Officially opened on September 15 with the sending application letters, the race to host the Summer Games in 2024 had midweek its first intermediate step. The deposit at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, the first of three records, devoted to vision, the Games concept and strategy. The four candidates have all reached in time. So they continue the adventure. An IOC working group should now delve into the four large documents, sixty pages on average, for a report presented in June 2016 to the Executive Board.

The next stop is scheduled to be October 7, 2016, with the sending of the second application, dedicated to the legal, governance and funding. The last lap will be taken February 3, 2017, the day the cities will submit a third document in Lausanne, devoted to the preparation of the Games, the experience and legacy of the Olympic sites.
The course is launched. But it is only beginning. Some observers agree place Paris and Los Angeles in front, ahead of Rome and Budapest. Premature analysis. Everything can change until the last moment. The last few weeks sometimes prove decisive. He even said that Paris would have lost out to London for the award of the Summer Games in 2012, the Election Day. Meanwhile, a first state of forces is required.

Budapest
The Hungarian application was the first in history. The only way out of a country from the former communist bloc. Holders of the project have built in compliance with the resolutions of the Agenda 2020 IOC. Few buildings, very reasonably Olympic budget (2.4 billion euros), a pretty device exploded, with some events held away from the capital. The Hungarian record has the support of political forces. He is co-signed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Budapest Mayor István Tarlós, president of the National Olympic Committee Zsolt Borkai, and finally the boss’s candidacy Balazs Furjes. The strong man of the application should be Pal Schmitt, a double Olympic fencing champion, former president, IOC member. Budapest in 2024 has not yet unveiled his campaign slogan, nor launched its official website. Planned dates for the Games: July 19 to August 4, 2024.

Los Angeles
The last part, after the withdrawal of Boston, the Californian city has quickly caught up. She has already twice hosted the Summer Games in 1932 and 1984, but promises a new experience, like a metropolis in constant mutation. 97% of sites exist or will be built, Games or not, with private funding. The bid team is headed by Casey Wasserman. The former swimmer Janet Evans will play a major role, as the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. Magic Johnson should be one of the first ambassadors. In Los Angeles, the Olympic Games would be held from 19 July to 4 August. The Californian city presented its logo and unveiled his campaign slogan “Follow the sun”. It also launched its website, LA24.org.

Paris
The French capital has not hosted the Games since 1924. She learned the lessons of successive failures for the 1992 Games, 2008 and 2012, this time with the athletes and the sports movement in first position. Its compact device reveals the few buildings (the athletes’ village and the media, water park, Bercy Arena 2). The bid is co-chaired by Bernard Lapasset, president of World Rugby, and Tony Estanguet, triple canoe champion, IOC member. Political support is unquestionable. The commitment of the private sector also, for proof the signature already acquired seven partners to the tune of € 2 million each. In Paris, the Olympic Games would be held from 2 to 18 August 2024. The bid presented its logo, slogan (“The Power of a Dream”), and open Wednesday, February 17 its website, Paris2024.org.

Rome
The Italian capital hosted the Summer Games in 1960. His 2024 project aims modest, especially for the campaign budget (€ 27 million). In Rome, the Games would cost 5.3 billion euros, including 2.1 billion euros for the construction of new infrastructure. Building on the legacy facilities of the 1960 Games (Foro Italico, in particular), Rome 2024 provides a device where 70% of the sites already exist. The project is run by Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari’s former boss. The other two strong men should be Giovanni Malago, President of the National Olympic Committee (CONI) and Matteo Renzi, Prime Minister. In Rome, the Games would be held from 2 to 18 August 2024. The bid team was first unveiled its logo, but it still awaits his campaign slogan. Its website, 2024roma.org, is already on the Web.