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Toronto passes on bidding for the 2024 Summer Olympics

Toronto Mayor John Tory speaks to the media on Sept. 15.

Toronto Mayor John Tory speaks to the media on Sept. 15.

(Marc Braibant / AFP/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles will be the only North American bidder for the 2024 Summer Olympics, with Toronto officials confirming Tuesday that their city will not enter the race.

Speaking at a morning news conference, Mayor John Tory expressed concern about the cost of the Games and said his city needs to focus on making infrastructure and transportation improvements.

“Toronto can be an Olympic city and already is a world-class city,” Tory said. “I’m not saying no to the Olympics. I’m saying not this time.”

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There had been some support for bidding in the wake of the city’s successful Pan Am Games this past summer. The mayor announced plans to create a panel that would study uses for those facilities as well as the possibility of a future attempt for the Games.

Official bid submissions are due to the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Switzerland by Tuesday evening.

Barring last-minute changes, Los Angeles’ bid will be joined by those from Paris; Rome; Hamburg, Germany and Budapest, Hungary.

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