State Justice Department official Nelson to serve as general counsel of Los Angeles 2024 Olympic bid

Brian Nelson has been appointed a general council for the Los Angeles 2024 bid ©Brian Nelson/LinkedIn

Local politician Brian Nelson has been unveiled as the latest appointment within Los Angeles 2024's fledgling Olympic and Paralympic bid, and as general counsel will undertake a key facilitating role between the bid and prospective host city authorities.

Californian-born Nelson started out as deputy chief of staff for the US Department of Justice's National Security Division, before joining the state Justice Department staff initially as a senior policy adviser to attorney general Kamala Harris.

He then became the department's general counsel and is expected to serve in a similar role within the bid team.

“I am thrilled to join this conversation about what makes Southern California so special and will do whatever I can to support Los Angeles’ candidacy to host the 2024 Games," he said.

"Like the Olympic Games, California represents the values of openness, achievement and diversity to many around the world.

"The two-year Olympic bid process offers our state a special opportunity to illustrate these values as well as to showcase how California is innovating for a more sustainable future."

One of his first tasks is expected to involve working on a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bid Committee and the city of Los Angeles.

This is a key milestone if the bid is to be successful and was something which Boston - the city initially proposed as the United States contender before being withdrawn in July - proved unable to achieve.

Brian Nelson is expected to work closely with the office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ©Getty Images

The official is expected to work closely with Mayor Eric Garcetti's counsel Rich Llewellyn and deputy counsel Manav Kumar.

"Brian’s state and federal experience is just what we need to handle the wide range of legal matters affecting the committee," added Los Angeles 2024 chairman Casey Wasserman.

"I am very pleased Brian is bringing his experience and exceptional legal mind to the team.”

Although widely mooted in August, Los Angeles' bid was only officially confirmed on September 1, with United States Olympic Committee officials having praised the "swift progress" made since then, with the assembling of a bid team one area singled out for praise.

This comes after four-time Olympic swimming champion Janet Evans was last week appointed vice-chair of Los Angeles 2024.

The US city is one of five confirmed bidders in the race alongside four European rivals in Budapest, Hamburg, Paris and Rome.

A final choice is due to be made by the International Olympic Committee at its Session in Peruvian capital Lima in 2017.