SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 01: The Olympic Rings are pictured next flags of the competing nations inside the Olympic Park prior to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 1, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Los Angeles is carrying the flag of the United States in the bidding process for the 2024 Olympics. Its opponents? Paris, Rome and Budapest. All Olympic hosting bids were submitted on time according to the International Olympic Committee.

“It is impressive to see how they have incorporated the Olympic project into the long-term development plans of their city, region and country,” IOC President Thomas Bach said, according to Business Insider. “Coming from different starting points, for all four there is a clear focus on sustainable development, legacy and in particular how the facilities are going to be used after the Olympic Games.

We also got a first look at the proposed logos for the games. Los Angeles has a logo inspired by the notion LA is a city of angels and plays off the bid slogan, “Follow the Sun.”

Los Angeles previously hosted the Olympics in 1984, with Los Angeles Coliseum serving as the host venue. Odds are if the games make a return to LA in 2024, the Coliseum would be used in some capacity, but not as the main host site for the big and lavish opening and closing ceremonies. Remember, the St. Louis Rams are heading to Los Angeles and will be building a brand new state-of-the-art stadium that will be less than a decade old by the time the summer games roll around. It is pretty easy to think that would have a good chance to serve as the host for the big events.

If it is Los Angeles that gets the rights to host the 2024 Olympics, it would figure to be quite the star-studded showcase for Los Angeles. The sports world has grown immensely since the games were last there, and with the ever growing state of how we all consume sports, odds are Los Angeles would knock it out of the park with Olympic coverage, at least in the United States. Between venues like the Rose Bowl (for soccer), Los Angeles Coliseum (track and field), a brand new football stadium (could also be used for soccer, I suppose), the Staples Center (basketball/gymnastics), there is no question Los Angels has the facilities to host the games.

The problem is Paris is going to be tough to beat.

Paris is a two-time host of the summer games, but the last time the capital of France hosted the games was in 1924. Considering how long it has been, Paris may have an edge over Los Angeles. Keep in mind the United States has hosted Olympic events multiple times since last visiting Los Angeles, with summer game sin Atlanta and winter games in Salt Lake City and Lake Placid. Of course, France did host the winter games in 1992 (Albertville). France has hosted three winter Olympics, but not one was hosted by Paris.

Rome last hosted the summer Olympics in 1960. Budapest has never hosted the Olympics.

[Business Insider]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.