Boston 2024's biggest challenge in the near future "is working to drum up support for a local Olympics without appearing to force the mammoth undertaking on an unwilling public," according to Michael Levenson of the BOSTON GLOBE. Boston 2024 insists that it "has no immediate plans to launch stirring TV spots, laced with patriotism and athletic glory, to sell its plans." But the group "has adopted an almost comically soft-sell approach under its new chairman, Steve Pagliuca," who insists that residents "examine the bid carefully and then decide for themselves whether they want to support it." Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, "an enthusiastic backer of the bid, said ads should be considered at some point." However, he said that support "cannot be nurtured only through the airwaves." Walsh: "I’m not going to go out on the campaign trail and be knocking on doors and saying, ‘I need you to support the Olympics.’ ” Levenson notes at the USOC’s board meeting last month, USOC Chair Larry Probst "effusively praised the recent changes Boston 2024 made to its bid, but said the committee remains concerned about the lack of public support and wants to see poll numbers improve, 'the sooner, the better.'" Boston 2024’s leaders, "who include prominent ad executives and political strategists, have produced inspirational online videos featuring local Olympic medalists Mike Eruzione and Aly Raisman, but said there is no current plan for wider release." Instead, they plan to "continue holding community meetings, putting placards in store windows, and sending volunteers in Boston 2024 tee-shirts to parades and athletic events." Boston 2024 "could also face legal questions about whether spending money to promote the bid on TV would require the group to launch a political committee, given the likelihood that the issue would be on the ballot next year" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/8).
BAN TOGETHER: In Boston, Matt Stout reports Massachusetts legislative leaders "agreed to ban state public funds from being used for Boston’s Olympic bid." Lawmakers said the state budget, which was released last night, "includes language preventing the use of state funds or tax expenditures for the 2024 Olympics." However, the exact wording of the measure "wasn’t immediately released." Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stanley Rosenberg "have all signaled they are not in favor of putting state taxpayer cash toward the operation or building stadiums for the Summer Games" (BOSTON HERALD, 7/8).
