Macron hails 'important step' towards Paris hosting 2024 Olympics

PARIS - 1 August 2017:French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday hailed Los Angeles' announcement that it intends to host the 2028 Olympics as a "very important step" towards Paris hosting the 2024 edition.

"France notes the decision of Los Angeles to put forward its candidature for 2028 and to reach an agreement with the IOC and Paris," a statement from Macron's office said.

Macron spoke to International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach following Los Angeles' announcement on Monday and was "delighted by this very important step towards France obtaining the Games in 2024".

The statement added Macron was "very committed to helping our country's candidacy win" in a contest in which Paris is now the only candidate following Los Angeles' decision.

Both Paris and Los Angeles had wanted to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, with the winner to be officially named by the IOC on September 13 in the Peruvian capital Lima.

But the possibility that Los Angeles would abandon efforts to host the 2024 Games bid and instead accept to host in 2028 has been growing since the IOC decided in July that it would attempt to announce the host cities of both Games at the Lima meeting.

Paris had remained insistent on hosting in 2024, on the 100th anniversary of the city's 1924 Olympics.