Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games

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The Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games ( SCCOG for short ) is an association in Los Angeles that supports the Olympic movement . It was founded in 1939 by William May Garland and Paul Helms . The impetus for founding the committee came from the USOC so that it could apply as an alternative to Tokyo to host the 1940 Summer Olympics . As a result, the SCCOG applied several times unsuccessfully to host the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles and promoted the sport in Southern California. Barry A. Sanders is currently the Chairman of the SCCOG and David Simon is the President.

history

After the 1932 Summer Olympics , which had brought the city of Los Angeles a profit, there was a positive general mood for a renewed application to host the Olympic Games. At the request of the United States Olympic Committee , businessmen William May Garland and Paul Helms founded the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games in 1939. It offered itself as an alternative to hosting the 1940 Summer Olympics , which had been awarded to Tokyo because Japan was at war in China. Ultimately, the 1940s Games were canceled, but the committee continued efforts to bring the Olympics back to Los Angeles. In collaboration with the city, the SCCOG applied directly to the IOC for the 1948 Summer Olympics , the 1952 Summer Olympics and the 1956 Summer Olympics , but remained unsuccessful. For the 1960 Summer Olympics , the 1964 Summer Olympics , the 1968 Summer Olympics and the 1972 Summer Olympics , the SCCOG took part in the USOC's internal application process. For the 1976 Summer Olympics , 1980 Summer Olympics and 1984 Summer Olympics , Los Angeles was the official candidate city of the United States, represented by the SCCOG. Los Angeles lost twice until, under the direction of SCCOG Chairman John C. Argue, the city was the only applicant to win the bid for 1984.

In addition to the efforts to host further Olympic Games, the SCCOG promoted sport in the region. Between 1940 and 1968, it held relay competitions at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum , each with between 40,000 and 50,000 spectators. In 1965, the IOC awarded the SCCOG the Olympic Cup . In addition, with John C. Argue (1994), Tom Bradley (1984), Peter Ueberroth (1984), Harry L. Usher (1984), Paul Ziffren (1984) and Anita DeFrantz (1980), six members of the SCCOG received the Olympic medal.

Between 1984 and 2001 the SCCOG was only active to a limited extent and waited for a good time to apply for another Olympic Games. In 2001 it started bidding for the 2012 Summer Olympics with a concept similar to the 1984 Games. Ultimately, New York became the American candidate city and was supported by the SCCOG. In 2002, Chairman Argue passed away and Barry A. Sanders took over this position. Under him, the SCCOG increased its efforts to bring major international sporting events to the region in order to be ready for a new Olympic organization.

President

In 2003, the presidency became chairman by statute.

literature

Web links