Los Angeles is officially one of four cities representing the United States' bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced last night.

If the International Olympic Committee ultimately chooses our fair city, it will have been the third time, after 1932 and 1984, the games headed to L.A. Only London has held three summer games.

However, the U.S. committee hasn't even committed to one city yet, which is what it says it will do in January before submitting its proposal to host the games stateside. Then the decision goes to the international committee.

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L.A. will be battling against three other American cities to carry the U.S. bid forward. Said the U.S. Olympic committee in a statement, “Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., remain under consideration, with the selection of a U.S. bid city to be made in early 2015.”

USOC CEO Scott Blackmun:

All four cities have presented plans that are part of the long-term visions for their communities. At our request, and because of the preliminary nature of our discussions, the cities have not spoken about their bids publicly in great detail. That will be an important part of the process after we make our selection in January.

The finalists were chosen after a 16-month process that vetted 35 American cities, including San Diego, that wanted to host in 2024.

Credit: Bryan Pugh/Flickr

Credit: Bryan Pugh/Flickr

Mayor Eric Garcetti helped make the pitch for L.A. to the U.S. committee. He said city leaders have a “bold vision for a sustainable, affordable and inspiring Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

One of the advantages greater Los Angeles might have is its panoply of potential venues, including the likes of the Coliseum, the Sports Arena, the Rose Bowl, StubHub Center, Staples Center, and more.

Winning cities often end up building Olympic facilities from scratch, an expensive undertaking that might not be necessary here.

The international committee will start to look at global contenders to host the games after a Sept. 15 deadline for bids. The winner will be announced in 2017.

Send feedback and tips to the author. Follow Dennis Romero on Twitter at @dennisjromero. Follow L.A. Weekly News on Twitter at @laweeklynews.

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