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Leonsis, DC Olympic Bid Committee Begin Public Pitch For '24 Summer Games

Organizers of the bid to bring the '24 Summer Games to DC have "taken their pitch public in recent weeks, making their case to elected officials, leaning on the advice of a seasoned political adviser and polling area residents for their support," according to O'Connell & DeBonis of the WASHINGTON POST. Washington '24 exploratory committee Chair Russell Ramsey and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Founder, Chair & CEO Ted Leonsis, who serves as the committee's Vice Chair, have "shepherded the effort to secure the Summer Games largely behind the scenes." But the two last week made their "first public entreaty to local officials when they argued that sports -- along with universities, public spaces, architecture and business communities -- are one of the defining characteristics of modern American cities." To "further build support, the committee recently hired longtime DC political strategist Tom Lindenfeld and polled 1,000 Washington-area residents about their interest in the games." The telephone poll, conducted Aug. 27-Sept. 8, asked 600 DC residents and 200 residents each in Maryland and Virginia "whether they support or oppose bringing the Games here and how much economic development they believe the Games might bring." Washington '24 Communications Dir Penny Lee said that the poll was part of an "ongoing effort to solicit feedback from the region's residents." Although some economists "argue that holding the Games can mean financial losses for host cities, Leonsis made economic development a central part of his pitch to COG, saying that winning the Games could reintroduce Washington and the region to the world" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/17).

COMMON WEALTH: In Virginia, Jill Palermo noted elected officials from Prince William, Fairfax and Arlington counties "joined other regional leaders to offer a collective 'count us in'" when Ramsey and Leonsis "delivered their first formal pitch about the area’s new Olympic bid to board members of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments." The two "gave an informal but passionate appeal aimed at inspiring the region's leaders to inspire their communities to embrace the idea of hosting the summer Olympics." Ramsey and Leonsis were "short on specifics regarding what the area's jurisdictions can do to help now, saying only that they'll be 'open about the process'" (PRINCE WILLIAM TODAY, 9/15 issue). Fairfax County Supervisor Chair Sharon Bulova said that the Olympic events in the region "'could be a galvanizing event,' but there have been no formal talks with county officials." Bulova: "Our board has not passed a resolution (to get involved), but if someone made a motion, it would probably pass easily. The idea is great" (RESTONNOW.com, 9/16).

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