Los Angeles, Aug 12 (IANS): The Los Angeles Council has voted 6-0 in a special meeting approving the contracts signed by the city government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last week to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.
It's an important move for the second largest city of the United States to lock the award of being host of the 2028 Summer Games, which is scheduled to be announced with 2024 Olympics host city Paris, together by IOC on September 13 in Peru, reports Xinhua news agency.
In the two-hour meeting on Friday, representatives from Chief Legislative Analyst, City Administrative Officer and City Attorney reported briefly their assessments to the Host City Contract, Memorandum of Understanding and other actions for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Meanwhile, about one hundred local residents also shared their comments and recommendations regarding the contracts before vote.
Some residents expressed their concerns about the Games, saying that it could worsen the traffic problem and housing crisis of the city.
But more people believed that LA would benefit from the Olympics, including infrastructure works, education and small business.
The endorsement on Friday authorises LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and Council President Herb Wesson to sign a "tripartite" agreement between the cities of Paris and Los Angeles, each nation's Olympic committee and the IOC, which will ensure the two cities to be awarded the two Games in 2024 and 2028 simultaneously.
It will also authorise Garcetti and Wesson to sign the Host City Contract and provide a written guarantee stating the city will cover any potential financial shortfall incurred by the Olympic organising committee while staging the 2028 Games.