New Report Shares Details of Possible 2024 Olympics in L.A.

The state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office released a report this week diving into the details of what a potential Olympics in Los Angeles would look like. The city is competing with Paris for a bid to host the 2024 games.

The report maps out where athletes would be housed and where different sports events would take place. The L.A. 2024 planning committee has touted the city’s existing infrastructure from the 1984 Olympics as a selling point for hosting the games in California. The games are expected to cost upwards of $5 billion, with funds coming largely from sponsorships, ticket and broadcast revenues.

“Putting on the Olympics now is a much bigger task than it was in 1984,” said Jason Sisney with the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

If Los Angeles receives the bid, the city will host two simultaneous opening and closing ceremonies -- one at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the other at the planned Los Angeles Stadium. No other Olympics has split the ceremonies before in order to maximize audience size. Tickets at the smaller opening ceremony would cost an average of $300. Tickets at the larger would cost upwards of $1,700.

Last year, the state Legislature passed the 2024 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act. The legislation provides a $250 million safety blanket of emergency financial support, in case the games run a deficit.

While lawmakers in Washington won’t be opening their wallets for the L.A. games, Sisney said they still have an important role in the games.

"The federal government has a huge role in helping athletes and officials and coaches come into the country through the immigration process," said Sisney. He also noted the federal government would contribute in providing security for the games.

While the US Olympic Committee has said it has the federal government's agreement to provide travel assistance to foreign athletes, Olympic historian Derick Hulme said President Trump’s recent executive orders regarding immigration have cause irreversible damage.

"I think that Paris will get the bid. Trump coming to power has really solidified their position," says Hulme.

A host city will be selected by the International Olympic Committee in September.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story erroneously said the Olympics were expected to "cost Los Angeles upwards of $5 billion." Funds for that $5 billion price tag would come largely from sponsorships, ticket and broadcast revenues, and not the city government. KQED regrets the error.