LA 2028 applauds choice of Patrick Baumann to chair commission
The International Olympic Committee appointed Patrick Baumann to chair the coordination commission for Los Angeles 2028, a decision meant to take advantage his familiarity with the city’s plan for the Games.
The Swiss IOC member chaired the evaluation commission for 2024 and 2028. Baumann will also serve as vice chair for the coordination commission for Paris 2024.
"The LA 2028 team developed an excellent working relationship with Patrick Baumann when he served as chairman of the IOC evaluation commission during our bid and we are excited to continue our collaboration in his new role as chairman of the coordination commission,” LA 2028 chairman Casey Wasserman said in a statement. “Chairman Baumann understands our vision for a New Games for a New Era, and as we begin work to turn our vision into reality, he will be a valuable partner, sounding board and mentor for our organizing committee.”
Baumann took over as evaluation commission chair in March, stepping into that role after Frankie Fredericks resigned following a report linking him to a payment in advance of the awarding of the Rio Games.
More: IOC to decide in December on Russia's participation in Games
More: Tokyo vows clean water for 2020 Olympic triathlon
The evaluation commission visited Los Angeles and Paris in May when both were still bidding for 2024, and the report issued by that group in July praised both bids. Baumann called them "outstanding," saying they were low-risk, high-reward propositions for the cities and the IOC.
The IOC voted in July to try to reach an agreement with Los Angeles and Paris to award two Summer Olympics, and Los Angeles agreed to withdraw from the 2024 race to be the sole bidder for 2028.
In his role as evaluation commission for 2028, Baumann asked follow-up questions of Los Angeles and re-iterated the original report’s comments to the IOC in September in Lima.
During that session, the IOC voted to award the two Games simultaneously.
“Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 now share a strong bond, a common history and are embarking on an exciting journey together,” Baumann said in a statement. “This history and the success of both Games have become inextricably intertwined. Having the honor of playing a role on both Commissions, I am looking forward to contributing, with my colleagues, to the success of these two remarkable cities and of the Olympic Movement.”
Baumann, who is also President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations, served on the coordination commission for London.
Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, president of the Belgian National Olympic Committee, will chair the Paris 2024 coordination commission.