Thomas Bach fears neither nights on planes nor the effects of jet lag. At the end of last week, the IOC President left his travel bag for a few days in Athens, Greece. The opportunity for a visit to a refugee camp. Change of scenery since Sunday January 31. The German leader landed in Los Angeles, California. A visit less steeped in history, but also widely covered in the media. The American city is a candidate for the Games in 2024. Thomas Bach is therefore welcomed there with the honors of a head of state.
On his program, a visit to some of the sites proposed by Los Angeles in its application for the Summer Games, a meeting with the main leaders of the project and, as is Californian tradition, some socializing with local stars. Sunday January 31, Thomas Bach did not have to choose between these three activities. The LA2024 team offered him all three at once. With, as a bonus, an NBA meeting.
At the start of the evening, Thomas Bach took the road to the Staples Center, a key site of the Los Angeles Olympic system, in the heart of the “downtown” hub. On the bill, a match between the Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets. Not really the shock of the day, but the main thing was elsewhere. In the staging. Flanked by Casey Wasserman, the head of the candidacy, and Magic Johnson, appointed vice-president of LA2024 last November, the IOC president shook hands with Kobe Bryant and posed for the photographers. Nice introduction.
Less glamorous but just as busy program for this Monday, February 1st. Thomas Bach and the IOC delegation are scheduled to attend several meetings with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Council President Herb Wesson, and LA 2024 leaders. Among them are Magic Johnson and Janet Evans, the two faces the most recognizable of the American candidacy. Also on their agenda is an interview with Larry Probst and Scott Blackmun, respectively president and CEO of the USOC, the American Olympic Committee. Finally, specifies a press release from the candidacy, “the delegation will also meet American Olympic champions, business leaders and local media reporters.” Thomas Bach will also meet two American members of the IOC, Anita DeFrantz and Angela Ruggiero.
A little later in the day, just to stretch your legs, visit the two sites chosen by the LA2024 team for the athletes' village and the media village: UCLA and USC, the two most prestigious universities in the City of Angels . “Following the guidance of President Bach, we are creating a concept for the Games that will provide athletes with the best experience, a personalized experience that will take advantage of our ideal climate and the existence of unparalleled venues,” explained Casey Wasserman ahead of the IOC President's visit to Los Angeles.
Tuesday, February 2, Thomas Bach will travel to the San Francisco Bay area to meet with leaders of technology companies. Less Olympic. Though…
