Boston 2024 Olympic Bid Withdrawn by USOC; IOC React in Kuala Lumpur

By Christian Radnedge

The Boston bid to host the 2024 Olympics was left in tatters this week as it was announced by the United States Olympic Committee that they would jointly end the campaign to bring the Games to the American city. 

A statement from the USOC and the Boston 2024 bid team was released on Monday shortly after a press conference in which Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said he would not support the city’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.

In his statement, USOC ceo Scott Blackmun said: “Boston 2024 has expressed confidence that, with more time, they could generate the public support necessary to win the bid and deliver a great Games. They also recognize, however, that we are out of time if the USOC is going to be able to consider a bid from another city.

“As a result, we have reached a mutual agreement to withdraw Boston’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Boston 2024 Partnership chairman Steve Pagliuca believed the bid process had still been a positive experience for the city.

He said: “Although we had hoped for a different outcome, we know that Boston will still benefit from the bidding process. Ours is a world-class city, but we face challenges when it comes to the cost of housing, our aging infrastructure, and the need to help all Bostonians find good jobs.

“We believe that our planning for the Games, including the vision for Widett Circle and Columbia Point, has already benefitted Boston, Mayor Walsh’s important 2030 planning process, and other civic conversations around the future of Boston’s neighborhoods and economic vitality. It can still advance many of the economic development, housing, infrastructure, and job creation opportunities throughout Boston and the Commonwealth that Bid 2.0 outlined.”

The USOC maintain they still want to bring the 2024 Games to the United States, adding: “We will immediately begin to explore whether we can do so on a basis consistent with our guiding principles, to which we remain firmly committed. We understand the reality of the timeline that is before us.

“We will brief the media on our progress towards a decision later in August, and we will not have any public statements on the subject of a possible bid until then.”

Members of the International Olympic Committee have been reacting to the news at their meeting this week in Kuala Lumpur, where they have gathered to determine the host of the 2022 Winter Olympics.

“We were all excited when (Boston) was announced, but it seems to have stumbled since,” said IOC vice-president John Coates. “But it’s better to face up to these things early if you don’t have full public support.”

A possible replacement for Boston is Los Angeles, the city which has hosted the Games twice before in 1932 and 1984. Executive board member Sergei Bubka of Ukraine was not averse to the prospect of a third Olympic encounter on the west coast.

“Los Angeles has great history, lots of experience. We will respect their [USOC] decision,” Bubka said.

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