Mayor and Canadian Olympic Committee President hold new talks over Toronto bid for 2024 Olympics and Paralympics

Toronto Mayor John Tory met with Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut to discuss a potential bid for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics ©Getty Images

A bid for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics from Toronto has moved a step closer after Mayor John Tory met with Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) President Marcel Aubut to discuss potentially entering the contest.

Tory and Aubut spoke about the changes to the bid process, where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) abolished a limit on the amount of cities who can put forward their candidacy and have dropped the application stage as part of their Agenda 2020 reform process.

They also discussed Toronto’s two previous unsuccessful bids for the Olympics and Paralympics, which came in 1996 and 2008 when the Canadian city was beaten by Atlanta and Beijing respectively.

A spokeswoman for Tory said the talks were held as “part of the consultation and due diligence the Mayor committed to undertake” before he decides whether or not to put Toronto forward.

The COC are in support of Toronto entering the race, using last month’s Pan American Games as an example that they are capable of hosting a sporting event of the magnitude of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Tory is weighing up his options, however, and no decision will be made until at least the conclusion of the Parapan American Games on Saturday (August 15).

Toronton is widely expected to throw their hat into a ring which already includes Paris, who lost out to London in 2012, Hamburg, Rome and Budapest, with Los Angeles set to be Boston’s replacement as the United States bidder.

IPC President Sir Philip Craven says the Parapan American Games, which conclude tomorrow, will be a good benchmark for Toronto's likelihood of success if they choose to bid for the 2024 Games — IPC President Sir Philip Craven says the Parapan American Games is a good benchmark for Toronto's likelihood of success if they choose to bid for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics ©Getty Images

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven has also weighed into the debate, claiming the Parapan American Games, which opened last Friday (August 7), is a “good barometer” of whether Toronto would be successful or not should they choose to bid.

“The Toronto 2015 Organising Committee have done an excellent job so far; they are the best prepared ever for a Parapan American Games and have done superbly in promoting the event to the public,” he said.

“If Toronto is serious about staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024 then this event will certainly be a good barometer of how successful any potential bid could be.

“Toronto needs to follow-up a hugely successful Pan American Games, with an equally fantastic Parapan American Games too.

“Doing so would send a very clear message to the global sporting community that this is a city with a desire and a hunger to stage two of the world's biggest sporting events in 2024.

“There can be no louder message than venues full of cheering spectators supporting athletes from all nations.

“The people of Toronto could be the launch pad for a successful Olympic and Paralympic bid and their support could be the difference between a Canadian athlete winning a silver or gold medal.”

Cities have until September 15 to formally declare their candidacy and the IOC is then due to elect its chosen host city at its Session in Lima in 2017.