The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Board of Directors will be meeting Thursday (January 8) “to consider a U.S. bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games” a media statement said Monday.
It’s expected that the Board will confirm and announce its selected city to put forward to bid for the Games – a decision that has likely already been made considering the meeting will be held at Denver International Airport, en route to a meeting with the yet-to-be-named city Friday morning.
In December the USOC confirmed its intention to bid for the Games but had yet to decide which city to partner with. Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington are being considered and made presentations to the Board prior to the announcement.
Boston and Washington have launched extensive public relations and social media campaigns to promote their bids, however Boston has faced fierce opposition from local groups who fear the costs of organizing the Games will reduce budgets for needed social programs. Washington lost its bid for the 2016 Games, but this time has been working hard to lose the perception that D.C. is all about politics – something that may not play well on the international stage.
#USOC Olympic Bid Cities By Twitter Followers @boston2024 – 5558 @dc2024 – 3090 @sf2024 – 757 #LA2024 – ??? http://t.co/6GbAtBu8YU
— GamesBids.com (@gamesbids) January 6, 2015
The Californian bids have conducted more low-key campaigns.
San Francisco is dealing with newly organized local opposition, “SF No 2024 Olympics” who are reportedly threatening political action and a referendum if their city is chosen to bid. San Francisco was in contention to bid for the 2016 Olympic Games but was forced to withdraw when a planned stadium deal fell through.
What U.S. City Would You Like To See Bid For The 2024 Olympic Games?
- Boston (24%)
- Los Angeles (23%)
- Washington (21%)
- San Francisco (21%)
- None (11%)
Loading ...Then there is Los Angeles, two-time Olympic hosts in 1932 and 1984 – a city already offering a wealth of physical and intellectual Olympic legacy and generally well-known and liked by the IOC. The bid from Southern California has been quiet so far, and maybe for good reason if it feels that its the bid to beat. L.A.’s only weakness seems to be the question, “why a third time?”
London’s 2012 Games was the final successful chapter of a trilogy, perhaps the same will hold true for Los Angeles.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will open the 2024 bid process on January 15 with the start of the newly added “invitation phase” where national Olympic committees and the IOC work together prior to the actual submission of bids. Formal nominations for bid cities must be made by September 15, 2015 and the final host city election will occur in 2017 in Lima, Peru.
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