David Ortiz, Larry Bird Among New Boston 2024 Board of Directors
Boston sports legends David Ortiz, Jo Jo White and Larry Bird are among the names bringing star power to a new 30-member board of directors looking for a reboot of Boston’s pursuit of the 2024 Olympic Games.
The new board, which “includes leaders from education, non-profit, law, business, labor, professional sports and the Olympic and Paralympic movements,’’ according to a press release, also features 2014 Boston Marathon champion Meb Keflezighi and former Olympian Michelle Kwan, as well as familiar Boston 2024 supporters such as chairman John Fish, Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca and Boston 2024 Partnership CEO Richard Davey.
“The Boston 2024 Partnership is fortunate to be surrounded by this breadth of talent and depth of expertise as we collectively showcase the significance of the Olympic Games for our city,’’ Fish said in a statement. “We’re tapping into a diverse base of support, experience and counsel to develop a winning plan that aligns with the long-term vision of Boston and brings back to the U.S. the spirit and community-building power of the Olympic Games.’’
The announcement of the board comes after months of Boston’s Olympic movement coming under increasing criticism. A February poll showed that only 44 percent of Bostonians surveyed supported the 2024 Olympics in Boston, down from 51 percent only one month earlier. The MBTA’s failure during February’s heavy snow only exacerbated concerns that Boston was not well-equipped to handle an event with the magnitude of the Olympic Games.
The new board of directors held its inaugural meeting in Boston on Wednesday (no word if Ortiz, who’s with the Red Sox in Tampa Bay, Bird, or White attended), and is scheduled to meet as a full board twice a year.
“The formation of Boston 2024’s board of directors further solidifies the important relationship between the City of Boston, the bid committee and the USOC. The enthusiastic support from each of the partners reflects the tremendous opportunity the Games provide,’’ USOC chairman and Boston 2024 board member Larry Probst said. “Our aligned approach to planning and governance enhances Boston’s bid and unites us in a common goal to make the 2024 Games transformative for Boston, and the Olympic and Paralympic movements.’’
Ortiz and Bird are names that Boston 2024 hopes may sway voters in their favor in time for next November’s referendum.
Other names on the new board include:
— Anita DeFrantz, Olympian, USOC Board Director, and member of the International Olympic Committee
— Angela Ruggiero, Olympian, USOC Board Director, and member of the International Olympic Committee
— Daniel L. Doctoroff, USOC Board Director, former CEO, Bloomberg, L.P.
— Whitney Ping, Olympian and USOC Board Director
— Kevin White, USOC Board Director, Athletic Director, Duke University
— Scott Blackmun, CEO, USOC
— Cheri Blauwet, Boston Marathon winner, Paralympian, and M.D. at Boston’s Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital
— Carol Fulp, president and CEO, The Partnership, Inc.
— Gloria Larson, president, Bentley University
— Brian Doherty, general agent, Building and Construction Trades Council of the Metropolitan District
— Eric Reddy, sales team leader, Bidding for Good, and co-founder of initiative to bring 2024 Olympic Games to Boston
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