#USinRio joins #FollowTheSun as U.S. Ambassador and LA Mayor promote LA2024 bid

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 07: (L-R) Consul General James Story, IOC Executive Angela Ruggerio, Ambassador Liliana Ayalde US Mission in Brazil, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, USOC Ceo Scott Blackmun, USOC Chairman Larry Probst, Chairman of the LA 2024 Candidature Committee Casey Wasserman an

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 8, 2016 – As part of its #USinRio campaign, the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Brazil hosted Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and delegates of the Los Angeles 2024 Olympic Bid Committee on Sunday, August 7, at a reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Liliana Ayalde and U.S. Consul General for Rio de Janeiro James Story.  The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Brazil is supporting the City of Los Angeles 2024 Olympic Bid.  Invited guests included representatives of the U.S. business community, as well as government and civil society representatives from Rio de Janeiro.

Ambassador Ayalde welcomed Mayor Garcetti, stating, “Today we are very pleased to have many of you that have joined Mayor Garcetti in this initiative to bring the Olympics back to Los Angeles.  And we are so excited to have this opportunity because we can feel the energy and the connection between Rio and Los Angeles (LA).”

Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti expressed the following regarding the Los Angeles Olympic bid, “Having warmly welcomed the world for the Olympic Games in 1932 and 1984, Los Angeles is a city that lives and breathes Olympic sport – it’s in our DNA. The Olympic passion on display here in Rio reminds us why we are working hard to bring the Games back to LA. The Olympic values of friendship, respect and excellence are more relevant today than ever before, and, just like Rio has done for the 2016 Games, we hope to be able to put the best that our city has to offer – creativity, innovation and proven Olympic experience – at the service of the Olympic Movement in 2024.”

If the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awards Los Angeles the final nomination, it will become the first American city to host the Summer Games since Atlanta 1996.  Additionally, it would be the city’s third time hosting an Olympic games, having previously hosted the Summer Games in 1932 and 1984.  The projected July 28 start date for the 2024 games falls on the 40th anniversary of the last games to be hosted in Los Angeles.  Join their #FollowTheSun campaign.

Los Angeles 2024 will hold a press conference featuring Mayor Garcetti, LA 2024 leaders, US IOC members and Olympic legends at the Main Press Center, Frevo Room at the Barra Olympic Park on Tuesday, August 9 at 10:00 AM.  Interviews will be available after.

More information:
Please contact the Press Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro
E-mail: imprensario@state.gov
Telephone: (21) 3823-2149/2122/2119
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consuladoeuarj.br