Can Los Angeles wrestle the Olympic 2024 bid away from Boston?
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Paris are the even-money favourites to follow London, Rio and Tokyo by hosting the Olympic Games in 2024 but there is a battle brewing in the US should the French capital’s bid fall flat.
In much the same way as late rappers 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G had the east coast and west coast of America at loggerheads in the 1990s, Boston and LA look set to go to war over the right to represent America’s hopes of hosting the Games in ’24.
And, without wishing to stir up hostilities that have laid dormant for some time now, it appears the City of Angels, which hosted the Games in 1932 and 1984 is best placed to take on hosting duties once more.
As it stands, Boston (3/1 to be named hosts), have earned the right to represent the States’ bid to take the Olympics back to North America, but with public support for the bid now dwindling LA could yet step in.
Recent polls show that just 39 per cent of Massachusetts residents are in favour of hosting the games and the US Olympic Committee will meet later this week to discuss their options.
As far as options go though they basically have two: abandon the US bid all together, or hand the baton – so to speak – over to Los Angeles.
As such, with the Californian city currently priced at 10/1, now could be the time to back the Golden State to continue its hot streak.
While Boston boasts TD Garden, home to the NHL’s Bruins and NBA’s Celtics, and Fenway Park, the iconic Red Sox’s residence, the east-coast city’s facilities pale against those in LA.
With the Lakers/Clippers’ Staples Center and Dodgers Stadium just two of the high-profile arenas already available, there are plenty of people who feel the city‘s previous experience of hosting the Games means it is the better option.
Rome (5/1), hosts in 1960, and Hamburg (7/1) will feel that their chances should improve if Boston withdraw, but with LA riding high after the Golden State Warriors recent win in the NBA Championships, it could pay to back some Hollywood sparkle at the Games in 2024.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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