The USOC today formally announced that it has selected Boston as the U.S. bid city for the '24 Games. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh kicked off a morning press conference in the city and was joined by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, USOC Chair Larry Probst, USOC CEO Scott Blackmun, USOC Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer Patrick Sandusky and Boston Olympic Committee Chair John Fish, among others. Walsh spoke of a "vision for a new kind of Olympics," and he promised not to leave the city with a "large price tag on an unpaid debt" tied to the Games. Probst said the city's bid is "in harmony with the long-term vision of the city of Boston." Probst: "This journey has just begun. The hard work starts now." Fish lightheartedly recounted how in presenting the bid to USOC officials in Colorado Springs, he said he was "wicked excited." The speakers were joined on the dais by a host of current and for Olympic athletes from the Boston region (BOSTON.CBSLOCAL.com, 1/9).
Blackmun earlier said that the "decision was 'gut-wrenching' for the panel but that Boston came out on top in part due to the business people and elected officials who drove the effort." Blackmun: "One of the great things about the Boston bid was that the bid leadership and the political leadership were on the same page." Boston beat out competing efforts from DC, L.A. and S.F. (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/9).
IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement, "The Boston bid will be a strong one. ... Bostonians are well known for their enthusiasm for sport and the city has a great heritage in sport, science and education" (Mult., 1/9). President Obama also issued a statement that read in part, "The city has taught all of us what it means to be Boston Strong" (Mult., 1/9).
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