The timing could not have been better. Just two days after the conclusion of the debriefing meeting for the Rio Games in Tokyo, where it was mainly a question of big money and rising accounts, the Los Angeles 2024 team unveiled its Olympic budget on Friday, December 2. The document seems likely to reassure an Olympic committee shaken by the final bill for the Rio 2016 Olympics (10 to 12 billion dollars), and even more so by the alarmist forecasts for the Tokyo 2020 Games (objective: 18 billion dollars).

The Californians promise a low-cost Olympic event, without risk of overspending or fear of financial slippage. Casey Wasserman, president of Los Angeles 20014, sums up the vision with this formula: “A budget without surprises.” He adds: “Our project provides stability and minimal risk for the city of Los Angeles and for the Olympic movement. »

The numbers speak for themselves. In its application file, the budgetary elements of which must appear in the 3rd and final file, to be submitted to the IOC on February 3, Los Angeles 2024 proposes Games at 5,3 billion dollars. The math is simple: they would cost less than half of those of Rio 2016, and about a quarter of the projections established for Tokyo 2020.

The revenue and expenditure items show the same figure, $5,3 billion, for a balanced result to the nearest dollar. The budget provides for a reserve fund of $491,9 million, supposed to be able to cover possible unforeseen events.

Unlike previous editions, the Americans chose a single budget, which would combine expenses directly linked to the Games and those relating to sustainable construction. A daring sleight of hand, made possible by an application file where no new construction is planned. According to data provided by LA 2024, no less than 85% of sites are already in place. The Olympic village exists, it would be installed on the UCLA campus. More than thirty pieces of competition or training equipment are already part of the decor or, specifies the American team, will be renovated or built in all cases, Games or not, with private funds.

Despite everything, the largest item of expenditure in the budget unveiled on Friday December 2 concerns sports facilities, their modernization or the installation of temporary structures. It is estimated at $1,1 billion, or 22,6% of the budget forecast.

Transportation? Infrastructure? Security? They are not included in the budget. According to the Californian team, local authorities have already budgeted more than $200 million in expenses even before the first application was submitted. They therefore do not depend on the Games and do not have to appear in the Olympic budget. Implacable logic. Thus, $208 billion will be spent on roads and public transportation, $14 billion on the expansion of Los Angeles International Airport. As for security, it is the responsibility of the federal government.

In terms of revenue, Americans are counting on $1,93 billion in national sponsorship (36,4%), $1,47 billion from ticket sales (27,8%), and $1,3 billion paid by the IOC for the redistribution of TV rights and partnership revenues (24,6%). At first glance, the ticketing forecast seems very optimistic. And there is no provision in the budget for the slightest index of inflation for the next 7 years until 2024.

“We believe that a balanced budget, with a significant contingency fund, is a first in the history of Olympic bids,” suggests Los Angeles 2024 President Casey Wasserman (pictured above ). The Californian adds: “If LA were chosen for the 2024 Games, the IOC would not have to worry about a rising budget, relocated venues or any uncertainty regarding the organization. »

The Los Angeles 2024 budget was audited and verified by an independent firm, KPMG. It will be discussed Friday, December 9 during the next meeting of the ad hoc committee of the Municipal Council of the Californian city.