The Los Angeles bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games announced Wednesday it has appointed Marla Messing, former President and CEO of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup as Vice President and Executive Director of Sport Leader Relations for LA 2024.
Messing will manage relationships with domestic Olympic and Paralympic stakeholders, including national governing bodies and American sports leaders. She will also work closely with leading LA and California tech innovators, ensuring their integration into LA’s plans.
LA 2024 also appointed Peter Tomozawa as Vice President and Executive Director for Partnerships and Board Relations.
Tomozawa, formerly Executive Director of Business Development for Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, will manage relationships with institutional partners and board members as LA 2024 refines its sustainable Games plan. As an adviser to the Mayor, he negotiated an agreement governing financing for a $6 billion rail project, selected vendors for the city’s short term borrowing, and helped administer its park improvement plan.
Messing said it is “a great honour to join LA 2024’s talented team and oversee relationships with American national governing bodies and sports leaders, a crucially important group of stakeholders in ensuring LA 2024’s Games Plan delivers the best possible experience for both athletes and fans.”
Tomozawa said, “Los Angeles is uniquely suited to delivering a transformative Games in 2024. Not only is LA blessed with ideal weather and a wealth of existing, world-class infrastructure, but the city also has a vibrant network of creators, innovators and entrepreneurs who are revolutionizing the way the world works, plays and communicates.”
“I look forward to helping LA 2024 partner with Los Angeles business, labour and community leaders to deliver a new Games for a new era for the Olympic Movement”.
LA 2024 CEO Gene Sykes said “we’re thrilled to welcome Marla Messing and Peter Tomozawa to our executive team to contribute their expertise and management of our important relationships with local, domestic and international stakeholders.”
“Messing’s wealth of experience and vision in leading world-class sporting events and Tomozawa’s extensive public and private sector financial experience will be invaluable as we put together the best possible bid to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to Los Angeles.”
Competing against Budapest and Paris to host the Games, Los Angeles will learn if they are to host in 2024 after an election by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) September 13, 2017.
