Eric Garcetti, the mayor of the Californian city, made this clear at the Rio Games. The American press confirms it today: for the United States, Los Angeles' candidacy for the 2024 Games could well be the last. She will have to be successful, otherwise the American Olympic movement will take several steps back and remain in the shadows for a long time.

Nothing is official. But reading a timed transcript of the last meeting of the American Olympic Committee (USOC), in December 2016, leaves little room for interpretation. It took place on December 13 in Redwood Shores, California. It involved USOC Council members and key LA 2024 leaders, including bid CEO Gene Sykes.

The text states: “After a frank and intense exchange of ideas, the general consensus is that the LA 2024 candidacy is configured and calculated for 2024 and that it does not plan to be activated for 2028. Neither LA 2024 nor the USOC is not thinking of another bid other than the one for the Olympics in 2024.”

In itself, nothing very new. Los Angeles, like Budapest and Paris, is eyeing the Games in 2024 and only this event. None of the three cities ventured to suggest that their file could be reused, in the event of failure on September 13, 2017 in Lima, for the following Games. But speculation has been rife since the idea floated by Thomas Bach last month, at the end of a meeting of the IOC Executive Board in Lausanne, to vote this year in a single session for the 2024 Games and those of 2028.

At least 8 months before the vote, it seems very unlikely that the rules will change. But the Americans insist: there is no question of preparing, or even thinking of, another candidacy. A position which at the same time rules out the scenario of a United States project for the Winter Games in 2026. “The USOC does not plan to launch any other candidatures than that of Los Angeles”, we can read in the written transcript of its Council meeting.

Gene Sykes, the general director of Los Angeles 2024, made the same speech without the slightest ambiguity last month during a meeting with municipal authorities. “I am very, very clear, we are only applying for the 2024 Games,” insisted the American. Our presentation, our budget, all our work is focused on the 2024 Games. We absolutely do not take the 2028 Games into consideration. I don't want there to be any confusion on this point. »