U.S. Olympic Committee Says It’s Not Planning to Drop Boston’s Bid
The United States Olympic Committee is denying a report that it could soon drop Boston’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics if support for the bid remains low.
The report was published Tuesday afternoon by The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources. A USOC spokesperson issued a statement in response saying: “We believe that Boston can and should lead America’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we are absolutely committed to our partnership with [bid organizing committee] Boston 2024 and their innovative concept for hosting the Games. Any suggestion that we are considering alternatives is simply not true.’’
Boston’s bid has seen public support dwindle since it was selected by the USOC as its bidding city in January. A poll earlier this month showed just 36 percent of Greater Boston voters to support the bid while 52 percent said they were opposed.
“Boston 2024 and the USOC will conduct polls from time to time during this bid process to ensure we are on track to win a majority support,’’ Boston 2024 CEO Rich Davey said, adding that the International Olympic Committee requires such polling.
In response to the recent poor polling figures, Boston 2024 said it supports holding a referendum on whether or not to bid.
Such a vote would likely come next November, but the USOC must formally nominate its bidding city to the IOC this September. That means that if the USOC moves forward with the Boston bid, but Boston 2024 loses at the polls and drops it, the United States would be out of the running to host in 2024.
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