Boston "has a potential edge" in the USOC's effort to land the '24 Summer Games, as it is "offering itself as a city with compact venues," according to John Powers of the BOSTON GLOBE. If the IOC, "decides that is what it wants, Boston is seen as a strong candidate." Boston "would probably gain an advantage" over L.A., S.F. and DC, "whose plans offer less intimate settings." L.A. "would have five of its facilities in Long Beach, 25 miles to the south," while DC "would use sites in Maryland and Virginia" and S.F. would "spread its venues in a large loop around the Bay Area." Boston Olympic Committee Chair John Fish has put the "city's odds of being named the U.S. entry at 75 percent based on the perceived reaction to Boston's pitch to USOC officials." But even if Boston is selected, "it is not clear that the city is ready to commit." Boston is the only first-time bidder among the four possible U.S. hosts and is "still investigating the feasibility and availability of sites." The main stadium's location remains "uncertain" and "probably will be reduced from the customary 70,000 to 90,000 seats and could be downsized to 25,000 after the Games and used for a soccer facility." The natatorium, "which ordinarily accommodates around 17,000, could be built with removable spectator stands." London’s use of landmarks also "would be echoed in Boston," which could use Boston Common for beach volleyball, the Back Bay and riverside paths for the marathon, Franklin Park for equestrian, Harvard Stadium for field hockey and MIT’s Killian Court fronting the Great Dome for archery. Most of Boston’s offerings "would be near the Charles River or around subway and trolley lines" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/16).
