Los Angeles officially joins the race to host the 2024 Olympic Games

Los Angeles joined the race to win the 2024 Olympics on Tuesday after city leaders gave unanimous backing for a bid to stage the sporting extravaganza for a third time.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) formally named Los Angeles as its candidate soon after the city council members voted 15-0 in favour of supporting the bid.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Los Angeles as our US bid city for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” USOC chief Scott Blackmun said.

“LA has the proven experience in hosting the Games, and knows how to deliver world-class events for athletes and an extraordinary experience for fans.”

Los Angeles has hosted the Olympics twice before, in 1932 and in 1984, widely regarded as one of the most commercially successful Games of the modern era.

“The Olympics loves LA & LA loves the Olympics,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “We hope to return the Games back home.”

The United States has not hosted a Summer Olympics since the Atlanta Games in 1996.

Los Angeles faces fierce competition from other cities which have already entered the race for the 2024 Games, including Paris, Rome, Hamburg and Budapest.