The committee leading Los Angeles' bid for the 2024 Olympics urged residents Tuesday to sign up for its Volunteer Service Program.
Anyone who signs up and participates in the program — which will use digital platforms to highlight opportunities in 2017 for Angelenos to volunteer or do community service — will receive priority consideration for volunteer opportunities during the 2024 Games should Los Angeles be named the host city.
Los Angeles is competing with Paris and Budapest, Hungary, for the Games. The winning city will be selected in September.
The volunteer program already has hundreds of participants, who signed up at LA 2024's event at the Memorial Coliseum on Thursday celebrating the submission of its bid book to the International Olympic Committee.
"The LA 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a celebration of all Angelenos and the diverse communities of Southern California," LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman said.
"Eighteen million talented, creative and caring Angelenos are our greatest asset for hosting the Games,'' he said. "If Los Angeles is elected host city, tens of thousands of Angelenos would volunteer to support the events and welcome the world to our city. But we're not waiting until 2024. LA 2024 wants to use the power of the Games to galvanize volunteerism today, making L.A. an even better place to live for all Angelenos, well before the Games."
Olympian Janet Evans, LA 2024's vice chair and director of athlete relations, thanked "the hundreds of Angelenos who have already signed up to join LA 2024 as we give back to our communities and make a difference in our communities today."
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"We hope many more join us in this effort," she said. "Shows of support like these bring to life what polls tell us — that an overwhelming 88 percent of Angelenos want to bring the Games back to LA in 2024."
More information on the program can be found at LA24.org.
