The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has moved closer toward picking both Los Angeles and Paris to host a Summer Games in an unprecedented double vote this year.
IOC President Thomas Bach has repeatedly hinted at awarding the hosting rights for both the 2024 and 2028 Games at the IOC Session on Sept. 13 in Lima, Peru. Only the 2024 Games is currently scheduled to be voted on in Lima.
“All the options are on the table, and this includes also the ’24-’28 procedure and vote,” Bach said today when announcing a working group to study changing the candidate process.
The IOC executive board asked its four vice presidents to “explore changes” in Olympic bidding and report back in July.
Bach said the four-man working group will make proposals to the board and full membership. They meet from July 9-12 in Lausanne, Switzerland, where LA and Paris will make formal presentations of their 2024 hosting plans.
A full IOC meeting can change the Olympic Charter, which currently says host cities must be picked seven years in advance.
Los Angeles and Paris are in a two-candidate race after several rivals dropped out facing public opposition to expected spiraling costs and doubts about the long-term value of being an Olympic host.
