Paris Games reboot Olympic brand, raising bar for LA
Those tasked with following Paris seem impressed. "They have done a spectacular job," Los Angeles 2028 CEO Casey Wasserman told Reuters. "The experience in the venues, which is what this is all about for the athletes and the fans, is world-class." He said Los Angeles would not try to match Paris in style and substance but in "authenticity and execution", a view echoed by IOC President Thomas Bach. "If LA would like to copy the Eiffel Tower, it would be a recipe for disaster," Bach said. "Each Olympic Games has to be authentic, has to be creative, has to show the culture of the host country." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged Paris had set a high bar, and that LA's homelessness problems would be a challenge to overcome. But the City of Angels has one world class asset that nobody else can claim: "We do have Hollywood, so I expect a lot of magical opportunities," she told Reuters.
