Memorial Coliseum rocks in 2024 Olympic spruce-up shot

Renderings of the aquatics and track and field venues proposed for a potential Los Angeles-hosted Olympics in 2024 were released by the city’s bid committee Friday.

The LA 2024 committee unveiled renderings of how the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the aquatics area at USC’s Dedeaux Field could be spruced up for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

With a $270 million, USC-funded renovation of the Coliseum expected to begin in 2018, architecture and engineering firm AECOM has proposed strategies, such as a removable track surface, to temporarily set up the stadium for track and field events, so that the facility could quickly go back to accommodating football games once the Olympic events wrap up.

Temporary renovations to Dedeaux Field, which is used for baseball games, would convert it into an open-air swimming venue. Two adjacent pools at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center, which hosted the 1984 Olympics swimming competitions, would be used for training.

The Los Angeles Football Club Stadium in Exposition Park was originally slated to host swimming events, but is now being proposed as a soccer venue. Additional adjustments are also being considered as the second phase proposals due in February are being prepared, bid committee officials said.

LA 2024 officials have touted their bid as the most cost-effective and athlete-friendly option. Paris, Rome and Budapest also are vying to host the Olympics in 2024, with the International Olympic Committee expected to select the host city by September 2017.

— City News Service