The USOC “gave the clearest indication yet that it will make a pitch for the 2024 Summer Games, saying on Friday that next year it hoped to be in the final stages of preparing a bid,” according to Steve Keating of REUTERS. USOC CEO Scott Blackmun noted the idea of hosting the ‘24 Games “had near unanimous support from the country's sports federations.” Blackmun: "We did a poll of the NGBs and the amount of support we have to bid for a Games is unbelievable. … There was really no negative response.” Keating noted the U.S. “can expect stiff competition if it does bid” with Paris and Doha, Qatar “among those that could enter the race.” The USOC in June “short-listed four candidate cities” -- Boston, L.A., S.F. and DC. USOC BOD member and USA Pentathlon Managing Dir Rob Stull said, "I think any of the four cities would do a great job. I also think any city the United States presents will have an extraordinarily good chance of success. There are a lot of reasons for that, the television, broadcasting and marketing issue that was a stumbling block with the IOC has been resolved.” Keating noted Blackmun and USOC Chair Larry Probst “have spent several years patching up the strained relationship and are now confident that a U.S. bid would be welcomed by the IOC” (REUTERS, 9/26).
