Magic Johnson Appointed Vice Chairman of Los Angeles' Bid for 2024 Olympics

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson was appointed Wednesday to the role of a vice chair on the board of directors for Los Angeles' bid to win the 2024 Olympic Games.

LA 2024 confirmed Johnson's appointment to the committee, along with labor leader Maria Elena Durazo, joining a group that already included four-time Olympic swimming champion Janet Evans. Mayor Eric Garcetti believes it will help strengthen the city's overall effort.

"We're thrilled to have these great Angelenos on our team as we advance our city's bid and move to strengthen the Olympic Movement both at home and around the world," Garcetti said.

The release also included a statement from Johnson about his desire to bring the global sports showcase back to the area:

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The only thing greater than bringing a sports championship to Los Angeles would be bringing the Olympics back to the best sports town in America. I was here for the 1984 Games, and I saw a city that was united and honored to welcome the world. As a former Olympian, I'm proud to join the LA 2024 team and give them 'an assist' in returning the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the United States.

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Los Angeles has taken over the American bid for 2024 after Boston's effort to host the Olympic Games was dropped in July amid concerns about the overall hosting cost.

Johnson has taken on a prominent role in the Los Angeles sports scene since the Lakers drafted him with the first overall pick in 1979. He helped lead the franchise to five NBA titles, and now he's part of the ownership group of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Johnson brings a high-profile voice to the effort and is somebody who knows better than most how to sell the city on a global scale. He'll be doing plenty of that over the next two years ahead of the final vote in September 2017.