LAUSANNE: Los Angeles on Thursday launched its bid for the 2024 Olympics at the IOC having secured quick backing from President Barack Obama for the late campaign. The city only voted on Monday to take up the US campaign after the embarrassing withdrawal of Boston. But Obama made it known ahead of a meeting between a US delegation and International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach that he backs Los Angeles.

“The president is enthusiastic about the US Olympic Committee announcement that the city of Los Angeles will be the US bid for the 2024 Olympic Games,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. Los Angeles will be up against Paris, Rome, Budapest, and Hamburg with others considering taking the plunge before the IOC September 15 deadline.