Boston nominated to represent U.S. for 2024 Olympics bid

BOSTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) — The U.S. Olympic Committee chose the city of Boston to compete in the country’s bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Boston beat out bids from fellow U.S. cities, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

“We’re excited about our plans to submit a bid for the 2024 Games and feel we have an incredibly strong partner in Boston that will work with us to present a compelling bid,” said USOC Chairman Larry Probst in a statement. “We’re grateful to the leaders in each of the four cities for their partnership and interest in hosting the most exciting sports competition on earth. The deliberative and collaborative process that we put in place for selecting a city has resulted in a strong U.S. bid that can truly serve the athletes and the Olympic and Paralympic movements.”

Boston’s plan would include using existing venues like TD Garden and area college facilities like Harvard Stadium, Boston College’s Conte Forum and Boston Univeristy’s Agganis Arena. It would also include the construction of a temporary stadium south of downtown and an Olympic village that could later be converted into workforce or student housing.

“It is an exceptional honor for Boston to be chosen as the U.S.representative in the running for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said. “This selection is in recognition of our city’s talent, diversity and global leadership. Our goal is to host an Olympic and Paralympic Games that are innovative, walkable and hospitable to all. Boston hopes to welcome the world’s greatest athletes to one of the world’s great cities.”

The USOC must submit its application to the International Olympic Committee by Sept. 15, 2015, and a decision will be made in 2017.