Boston’s committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development will be meeting May 7 to discuss forming a commission that will examine a potential 2024 Summer Olympic Games bid.
In a statement, the Boston Olympic Exploratory Committee, whose nine members have been discussing the possibility of bringing the Olympics to Boston for nearly a year, said, “what began as two strangers meeting over a shared dream has grown to a group of 40-strong, dedicated to realizing the Olympic Movement in New England. In the months ahead, the Boston 2024 Exploratory Committee will evaluate the viability of hosting the Games. There’s much work to be done if we are to succeed, but we are up for the challenge and beyond excited to get started”.
Sen. Eileen Donoghue, who filed a bill to put together the commission, said in a statement Monday, “there are many positive aspects to consider about hosting the Olympics, including meaningful and long-term investment in infrastructure, potential revenue, old-fashioned civic pride, and the increased international profile and facilities that will keep people coming to visit our beautiful state long after the Olympics have gone. We are still early in the process, but I look forward to fully exploring this idea”.
If formed, the commission would look at the prospects of working with other New England states and seek input from local government and organizations. The commission would have to complete its findings and submit recommendations by January 2014.
Boston City Councillor Matt O’Malley said, “I’m very supportive of doing the feasibility study to see if bringing the Olympics to Boston makes sense. On its face we have tremendous infrastructure and space, and ability to host the Games better than many, many cities. We want to make sure we do all of our due diligence, talk to the experts, and ensure all of our I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed before we get to applying, though. We have never hosted the modern Olympic Games, so we want to make sure we do our homework”.
