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Robert Iger joins L.A. Olympic bid campaign

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Robert Iger, chairman and chief executive of Walt Disney Co., has joined Los Angeles’ campaign to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The LA 2024 bid committee -- a private group working to secure the Games -- announced the addition of one of Hollywood’s top executives to its board of directors on Tuesday morning.

“Bob’s bold, innovative leadership at the helm of the world’s largest media company is one of the key reasons that Los Angeles speaks to young people all over the world every day,” Gene Sykes, the committee’s chief executive, said in a statement. “Now, we’re delighted that he’s going to share his expertise with LA 2024.”

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Iger has some history with the Olympics, working with legendary producer Roone Arledge on the telecast of Games spanning from 1976 in Montreal to 1988 in Calgary.

“It’s an important endeavor, and I’m proud to support LA 2024’s effort to bring the Games back to Los Angeles and to re-imagine them in ways that engage the global community, elevate the movement, and inspire a new generation,” Iger said.

Los Angeles is competing with Paris, Rome and Budapest.

The L.A. bid committee has recently been busy holding town halls with former Olympians to gather suggestions for its campaign. LA 2024 also will send a delegation to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro to take part in an observer program.

The bidding process will continue for an additional year, with the International Olympic Committee scheduled to select a host in September 2017.

david.wharton@latimes.com

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