LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman has not “considered resigning” from the role over his appearance in the Jeffrey Epstein files despite L.A. Mayor Karen Bass "urging him to quit." Wasserman said “no” to whether he had thought about stepping down and “yes” to whether he had talked to Bass about her February comments. LA28 has said that with help from an outside legal firm, it “conducted a review” of Wasserman’s interactions with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, with Wasserman’s full cooperation. It fully backed Wasserman staying on. Wasserman said he talks to Bass “weekly, if not more frequently,” noting the conversations are “between us.” Wasserman: “They continue to be thoughtful and productive with a completely shared vision on delivering the greatest Games for the city and our community” (AP, 6/4).
IOC members visiting L.A. for a regular coordination commission this week “gave an even stronger vote of confidence” to Wasserman. IOC Coordination Commission Chair for LA28 Nicole Hoevertsz said, “This was the best CoCom ever.” She added the team is “ready,” the LA28 Games are “on track” and they are “in the safe hands of a very qualified and a very capable team” (L.A. TIMES, 6/4).
Binding offers for The Team, formerly the Wasserman agency, are “due June 8.” UTA and London-based private equity firm Permira have “both been whispered as frontrunners, but each comes with a major open question.” Perhaps the “best option on paper” is one that has been “flying largely under the radar: Goldman Sachs-backed Excel Sports Management” (THE ANKLER, 6/3).
