No Go for Boston 2024

By FRANK O’LAUGHLIN (Patch Staff)

The United States Olympic Committee has pulled Boston’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics, effectively ruling out any chance the city had of landing the summer games.

According to the Boston Globe, the committee has cut its ties with Boston. Boston 2024’s bid to land the games had grown increasingly out of favor since being introduced to the public in January.

On Monday, Boston Mayor Walsh refused to be pressured into signing a host city contract that would have left the city responsible for any financial overtures. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker also refused to pledge his support.

“If committing to signing the guarantee today is what’s required to move forward, then Boston is no longer pursuing the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games,” Walsh said.

The United States has not hosted the Olympics since 1996.

Boston’s bid team proposed big plans, but failed to properly disclose vital details regarding the push to land the games. As a result, state leaders were forced to back the residents of Boston.

“I strongly believe that bringing the Olympic Games back to the United States would be good for our country and would have brought long-term benefits to Boston, Walsh said. However, no benefit is so great that it is worth handing over the financial future of our City and our citizens were rightly hesitant to be supportive as a result. We always anticipated having the time to do our due diligence on the guarantees required and a full review of the risk and mitigation package proposed last week. This is a monumental decision that cannot be rushed, even if it means not moving forward with our bid for the 2024 Summer Games.”