Los Angeles named US bid candidate for 2024 Olympic Games

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles was officially selected on Tuesday as the American candidate city that will bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics after Boston pulled out of the race in July, the US Olympic Committee said.

Los Angeles, which has hosted the Summer Games twice before, in 1932 and 1984, will be among the front-runners and joins a race that includes heavy favourite Paris, Rome, Budapest and Hamburg.

"It is my distinct honour today to formerly name the city of Los Angeles as the US bid city to host the 2024 Olympics," USOC Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun told a news conference held just off the beach front in Santa Monica.

The final obstacle facing the city's candidacy was cleared earlier on Tuesday when the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to pursue a bid for the 2024 Games, giving Los Angeles the chance to become the only city besides London to host the Olympics three times.

The resolution adopted on a 15-0 vote by the council allows the city to negotiate financial terms of a hosting deal and bow out if it cannot reach agreement with Olympic officials.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will elect a winning bid in September 2017.

"LA has the proven experience in hosting the Games, and knows how to deliver world-class events for athletes and an extraordinary experience for fans," Blackmun said in a statement.

"Coupled with the city's culture of creativity and innovation, we are confident LA can deliver an outstanding Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024."

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said: "It is an honour for any city to host the Olympic Games, and Los Angeles is uniquely prepared for this task.

"With the unanimous support of our City Council, we are ready to serve and strengthen the Olympic Movement and build a new Olympic legacy."

The USOC had been under pressure to find another potential host with the IOC having set a Sept. 15 deadline for interested cities to submit a letter of intent.