Rushing to meet a deadline imposed by Olympics officials, the Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to endorse a bid for the 2028 Summer Games even though council members acknowledged they were acting without complete information.
The council’s unanimous decision will put tax dollars at risk by making the city responsible for any shortfall if the massive, $5.3-billion sports event goes over budget.
“We are the only city that has two successful Olympics – that’s what I look to,” Councilman Gil Cedillo said during an ad hoc committee meeting before the vote. “You can tell me other cities haven’t been successful. That’s not us.”
There is much at stake, even though the Olympics are often planned and operated by private organizations, the International Olympic Committee demands that host cities sign a contract agreeing to serve as a financial backstop.
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