The lighting of the cauldron is always a huge part of the Olympics, and if Los Angeles wins the bidding to host the 2024 Games, Mayor Eric Garcetti knows exactly who should do the honors: Caitlyn Jenner.
The former Olympic champion, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, has been in the spotlight for her transformation and Garcetti believes she could make a great fit to light the cauldron on a national stage.
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Jenner, who was granted the "Arthur Ashe Courage Award" at the ESPYs, won an Olympic gold medal in the men's decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Games. Garcetti believes she's a great fit for 2024.
"Caitlyn Jenner," Garcetti told TMZ when asked who should carry the torch. "I don't know, it could be anybody. Earvin 'Magic' Johnson is also part of the crew that's supporting the Olympics. I think we have so many folks, it would be great to have people of every color, every gender come and show L.A.'s diversity [and] light up that torch again."
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Jenner could have some competition as many athletes and stars have stepped up to support bringing the Olympics to the City of Angels for the first time since the 1984 games.
"81 percent of Angelinos want the Olympics," Garcetti said. "And you talk to the stars, you talk to the athletes, they love this town. They love the Olympics, so we're gonna go for it."
Los Angeles is battling Paris, Rome and Hamburg in the bidding for the 2024 Olympics. The lighters of the cauldron are usually heavily celebrated names that represent what the country stands for. In the past, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and boxing great Muhammad Ali have done the honors.
Garcetti beamed proudly about L.A.'s success in the 2012 London Olympics.
"L.A. is an Olympic town," Garcetti said. "We actually won more medals than China did in London from folks who live and train in L.A. So we did it in '84, we turned a profit, 2024 let's do it again."
Perhaps Los Angeles will win the bid and Jenner will have her chance to light the cauldron.
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