The Boston '24 bid committee yesterday confirmed the "proposed relocation of beach volleyball from the Boston Common to Quincy," meaning that three of the first four events announced under its new venue plan have "been moved from Boston to other communities," according to Mark Arsenault of the BOSTON GLOBE. The moves come "at the expense of the 'walkability' of Boston 2024’s original venue proposal, which was one of the committee’s early selling points aimed at the international audience that will choose" the '24 Olympic host in '17. But the committee "believes the trade-off will be worth it, with the potential to shore up the public standing of the bid here, in part by recruiting mayors and other allies in parts of the state perpetually in Boston’s shadow." Moving volleyball could relieve a "sore spot" from the original plan, as many Bostonians "hated the idea of an Olympic beach sport commandeering a swath of Boston Common." Boston '24 Chair Steve Pagliuca said that "about 25 events, or more," will be "left in Boston." That would include track and field events "in a temporary stadium planned for Widett Circle." The Olympic Village is also "expected to remain" at the Univ. of Massachusetts-Boston (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/18). In Boston, Jack Encarnacao notes the bid committee is "busily preparing a second version of its Summer Games plan it hopes to unveil by June 30" (BOSTON HERALD, 6/18).
