Boston drops bid to host 2024 Olympics

The United States Olympic Committee withdrew the bid after the mayor of Boston said his city’s taxpayers could not afford to host the large-scale event.

Zimbalist studied the Boston bid, and is convinced that both the city and state of Massachusetts are better off without it. “I don’t think it made a lot of economic sense”, Zimbalist says.

Boston mayor Marty Walsh made his position on the 2024 Olympics clear: He would not let taxpayers be responsible for any cost overruns.

“The USOC would very much like to see an American city host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024”, the statement added. He said he needed more time to study the bid before deciding whether to come out in favor.

Los Angeles sought to be the U.S. candidate to host the 2016 Games but was beaten by Chicago, whose bid was ultimately rejected by the worldwide Olympic Committee in favor of Rio de Janeiro.

Groups such as No Boston Olympics and No Boston 2024 have used social media and public forums to rally support against the bid. “This is a commitment that I can’t make without ensuring the city and its residents will be protected”. Chairman Larry Probst and Blackmun likely will make quick phone calls to leaders in Los Angeles, including Mayor Eric Garcetti and agent/power broker Casey Wasserman. Los Angeles was the only city to bid for the 1984 Games at a time when the Olympics were torn by boycotts and financial problems. Walsh said he would not sign a contract “that puts one dollar of taxpayer money on the line for one penny of overruns on the Olympics”. The USOC’s bid to the global Olympic Committee is due in September.

The United States has not hosted the Summer Olympics since 1996 in Atlanta and has not hosted the Winter Olympics since 2002 at Salt Lake City. The decision came after months of low public support and mounting criticism over whether the city should host the games.

Contacted this afternoon by Loose Lips columnist Will Sommer, Bowser’s Chief of Staff John Falcicchio tells City Paper, “We were surprised that Boston’s bid deflated”. It’s always a hard sticking point for U.S. candidates, because unlike governments in most other countries, the U.S. government doesn’t back any Olympic efforts.

One alternative, as the AP suggests, is Los Angeles.

Boston 2024 chair Steve Pagliuca did not hide his disappointment, releasing a statement in part that said, “Although we had hoped for a different outcome, we know that Boston will still benefit from the bidding process”. “We are unable to conclude our analysis without knowing the full scope of risk contained within the 2024 games”. In a poll done this month by the radio station WBUR, 53% of people living in the Boston area said they were against bringing the Olympics to town, as opposed to 40% in support of the games.

A vocal and growing group named No Boston Olympics became a strong voice in the decision. That could set a good precedent for other cities who want to host but don’t want to spend themselves into ruin.