Canadian Olympic Committee confirms interest in Toronto 2024 bid

A Friday board meeting of the Canadian Olympic Committee led to a unanimous vote to give COC president Marcel Aubut authorization to sign a letter of interest in a Toronto bid for the 2024 Olympics.

Carl Vallee,the COC'sexecutive director of communications, issued this statement Friday:"The Canadian Olympic Committee has been crystal clear in its intention to lead, advocate and prepare for a possible 2024 Toronto Olympic bid. This is simply the latest step in that process. As such, we are very pleased that the session, made up of Canada's National Sport Federations, supported Toronto's candidature unanimously.

"Today's vote recognizes the tremendous opportunity a bid would represent for a world-class city like Toronto and for the future of sport in Canada.That said, the mayor has also been clear that no decision has been made as of now."

While it was expected that the COC would support a bid, Toronto mayor John Tory must co-sign the letter and send it to the International Olympic Committee before the Sept.15 deadline.

On Wednesday, Hamburg, Germany formally made a bid, as did Rome, Italy on Thursday. Paris, Budapest and Los Angeles have also indicated that they will be bidders.