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Why U.S. Media Company Discovery Communications Is Backing the Paris Bid for the 2024 Olympic Games and Not L.A.

Jun 8, 2017  •  Post A Comment

With the battle to host the 2024 Summer Olympics coming down to Los Angeles vs. Paris, the French city has a formidable ally in U.S.-based Discovery Communications.

“Discovery, which has the European TV and digital rights to the Olympics, has thrown its weight behind the bid by Paris to host the 2024 Summer Games,” Variety reports.

The field narrowed to L.A. and Paris after Hamburg, Rome and Budapest dropped their bids. A decision appears to be imminent, with some media reports suggesting it may come by the end of this week.

Momentum may have shifted in recent days to Paris, with the BBC reporting that Casey Wasserman, who is heading the L.A. bid, issuing a statement Wednesday that says: ‘We have never been only about 2024.”

The BBC report suggests that L.A. may be in line to be awarded the 2028 Games, with Paris closing in on the 2024 Olympics.

Discovery CEO David Zaslav has come out in favor of holding the 2024 Games in Europe.

“Discovery owns the Eurosport channel and paid €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) for the European rights to both the Summer and Winter Games between 2018 and 2024,” Variety reports, noting that Eurosport is headquartered in Paris.

Zaslav is quoted by Variety saying: “Discovery has significant operations in Paris and Los Angeles, and we consider both to be world-class cities. That said, as home of the Olympic Games in Europe through 2024, we are excited to show our support for the Paris bid and their quest to bring the 2024 Olympic Games back to Europe.”

One Comment

  1. a massive boycott of Discovery Channels by viewers and sponsors ?

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