The Boston Olympic overhaul has begun. The Boston 2024 Olympic bid committee today announced the first major change to its widely criticized plan for the Summer Games: shifting the sailing venue 60 miles south to Buzzards Bay in New Bedford, Mass. It previously had been slated for Boston Harbor. In announcing the change, officials promoted two themes that will be part of other venue decisions: temporary construction and lasting public benefits. The sailing venue plans call for a 10,000-seat temporary seating/medal stand area to be built at historic Fort Taber overlooking the bay, a project officials say would revitalize the entire property while minimizing long-term upkeep costs.
One of the original selling points for the Boston bid was its compact footprint, offering visitors and athletes the rare ability to walk between most venues. But amid intense local criticism over real estate plans and taxpayer-funded development, that vision is being reconsidered. On May 29, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters he expected that the bid group would abandon its original plans in favor of distributing venues throughout the state. The private nonprofit group promises many more changes to be published and a comprehensive revision to be finished by June 30.
