LAUSANNE: Paris and Los Angeles, as expected, will both host the Olympic Games after the International Olympic Committee voted to approve a double award when members next meet in Lima on September 13 writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The IOC – which oversees the Olympic movement – wants the cities to reach an agreement on who hosts in 2028 by then. If there is no agreement, a vote to select just the 2024 host will be held.

Paris is favourite to stage 2024 with Los Angeles taking 2028. The political window for the French capital is smaller while the Californians’ claim that they have all the venues to stage the Games at any time may count against them as far as 2024 is concerned.

These were the only cities left after Budapest, Hamburg and Rome withdrew along the way leaving IOC president Thomas Bach under pressure to make the most of the two bids left standing.

Bach said after the meeting he hoped agreement could be reached between the cities next month. If not, then the IOC will vote between them in Lima.

In June, Los Angeles bid chair Casey Wasserman appeared to concede to Paris when he said: “We have never been only about 2024.”

However, a spokesman later said: “LA is the ideal host city for 2024 and is not conceding anything in the race for the 2024 Games.

Paris has said it has to go first as the site it has earmarked for the Olympic Village will not be available for redevelopment after 2024.

#############