Today, the Olympic Flame will be lit in Olympia, marking the start of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Torch Relay.
Route & Schedule
2017
October 24; Lighting Ceremony Ancient Olympia, Greece – Leg 1: Greece
October 31; Handover Ceremony Panathinaiko Stadium, Athens, Greece
November 1; Arrival of the Flame in Incheon – Leg 2: Republic of Korea
The reformed Candidature Process for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games consists of two phases:
Dialogue Stage (September 2017 – October 2018)
The aim of the Dialogue Stage is to allow Interested Cities and NOCs to explore hosting opportunities and benefits on a collaborative basis together with the IOC. At the same time, it enables the IOC to gain an understanding of the key opportunities and risks of Interested Cities before inviting them to develop a comprehensive candidature concept and file.
The aim of the Candidature Stage is to ensure the development of the best possible value propositions and robust Games delivery plans aligned with the Candidate Cities’ existing long-term development plans. Throughout the Candidatures Stage cities will work with the IOC to increase the value proposition of their Games delivery plans. This includes the development of a Games/Legacy plan aligned with the Candidate Cities’ existing long-term development plans, the submission of the Candidature File as described above, an analysis by the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations, IOC Technical Expert pre-visits and support and visits by the Evaluation Commission.
At the last day of the IOC Session in Lima, Milan was elected as the host city of the IOC Session in 2019. During this Session, the host city for the 2026 Winter Olympics Games will be chosen.
As expected, the International Olympic Committee awarded the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in 2024 to Paris and the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad in 2028 to Los Angeles.
“Congratulations to Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028! This historic double allocation is a ‘win-win-win’ situation for the city of Paris, the city of Los Angeles and the IOC.”
“It is hard to imagine something better. Ensuring the stability of the Olympic Games for the athletes of the world for the next 11 years is something extraordinary.”
“These are two great cities from two great countries with a great Olympic history. Both cities are very enthusiastic about the Games and are promoting the Olympic spirit in a fantastic way.”
IPC President Andrew Parsons said:
“I am greatly excited at what Paris 2024 and LA 2028 can do in terms of growing the Paralympic Movement and would like to send my heartfelt congratulations to both cities.”
“Both Paris and LA presented tremendous integrated bids and what I like about each host city is that they offer different opportunities for the Paralympic Movement.”
“Paris 2024 has a very strong desire to surpass London 2012 and stage the best Paralympic Games in history. Looking at what they presented here in Lima I really believe they can do it, however the benchmark will likely be raised by Tokyo in three years’ time. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will undoubtedly lead to social transformation and most certainly will make France an even stronger and more competitive player in Paralympic sport, especially with the development of France’s first Paralympic youth training centre.”
“With 11 years still to go until the LA 2028 Paralympics we have to go all out to ensure that these are the Games where the Paralympic Movement finally makes a breakthrough in the USA. This is a huge opportunity for us to engage the US market in terms of awareness, spectator numbers, TV viewership, commercial support and participation; it is an opportunity that we have to grasp with both hands.”
LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said:
“We know that the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 represent continuity with our city and this movement’s enduring values. Los Angeles reflects the face of America’s future, and the heart of American values of inclusiveness, of generosity and of unity.”
Tony Estanguet, Co-Chair of Paris 2024, said:
“This day, Sept. 13th, will be remembered for our two teams and for the IOC. Now let’s open, together, a new chapter of Olympic history.”