Los Angeles kicks off bid to host 2024 Olympics

The city of Los Angeles has begun its campaign to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously, 15-0, in support of the city's attempt to join other locales hoping to host the Games. While light on specifics, an announcement highlighting the city's plans did note that Los Angeles is planning to have 85 percent of proposed venues already in place or planned, and will have five primary venue clusters within 30 minutes of the proposed Athletes' Village. Los Angeles already boasts numerous arenas and stadiums in its immediate vicinity, with more potentially on the way as the city seeks to attract an NFL team.

Los Angeles stepped into the vacuum left by Boston, which abandoned its plans for a 2024 candidacy amid fears of cost overruns and a divided public. While cost specifics are an issue, Los Angeles officials noted that the city is not currently on the hook for any overruns. "This is the engagement, not the wedding," Los Angeles Council President Herb Wesson said.

The United States Olympic Committee has formally endorsed Los Angeles' candidacy, which means the city will likely be in competition with Rome; Paris; Hamburg, Germany; and Budapest, Hungary. Los Angeles's plan calls for a $6 billion Games, a far cry from more extravagant expenditures like those of 2008 Beijing and 2014 Sochi.

The 2024 Games will mark the 40th anniversary of the most recent time Los Angeles hosted the Olympics, in 1984. No American city has hosted a Summer Olympics since Atlanta in 1996.