BREAKING: AP Source: US Olympic Committee ends effort to bring 2024 Olympics to Boston.
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 27, 2015
At a press conference at which he confirmed the decision, Gov. Baker said the state had a review schedule set in March and USOC knew that in March, so, meh. "I've never planned an Olympics before" and wanted to know how to do it right, he said. We can still use some of the Olympics proposals - like fixing "K Circle" in Dorchester, he said. Also, the Brattle Group report will have helpful hints.
Baker wouldn't strongly criticize the USOC but suggested they just don't understand how we do things here. He said he's lived here all his life, and one of the things he likes about Massachusetts is that "we do have loud and robust policy and political debates on stuff like this."
Walsh statement:
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. 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.
Excerpt from Boston 2024 statement:
Notwithstanding the promise of the original vision for the bid, and the soundness of the plan developed under Steve Pagliuca, we have not been able to get a majority of the citizens of Boston to support hosting the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Therefore, the USOC does not think that the level of support enjoyed by Boston’s bid would allow it to prevail over great bids from Paris, Rome, Hamburg, Budapest or Toronto.
Boston 2024 has expressed confidence that, with more time, they could generate the public support necessary to win the bid and deliver a great Games. They also recognize, however, that we are out of time if the USOC is going to be able to consider a bid from another city. As a result, we have reached a mutual agreement to withdraw Boston’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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Comments
Dear Governor Baker: please still release Brattle Group report
By Ron Newman
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 2:55pm
It will be very useful to read, even though this particular bid is dead. Perhaps it could even forestall a future bid?
There will be no future bid.
By anon
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:23pm
There will be no future bid. Boston, like Denver, is now going to be blacklisted by the USOC.
ohhhh nooooo!
By Matthew Miller
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:49pm
Oh no, Br'er Fox! Not the USOC blacklist!
Minor difference
By Ari O
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 4:15pm
Denver was awarded the games by the IOC, as in they beat out all the other cities in the US and internationally, too. It would be as if Boston had been awarded the games over Hamburg and Rome and whoever, and then pulled the plug in 2020.
Cry me a river
By karen
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 9:46pm
*GASP* the USOC Blacklist? THE HORROR!
Baker said it will still be released in some form
By adamg
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:26pm
Because it can be helpful for making Boston better even without the Olympics.
Just like those DMU cars for
By MattL
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 6:20pm
Just like those DMU cars for the Commuter Rail would be helpful for making Boston better without the Olympics.
Too bad he cut them out of the budget.
He cut the DMUs?
By Jason
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 7:06pm
Dammit, I didn't know that.
He can't do that alone
By anon
Wed, 07/29/2015 - 11:32am
All expenditures are by the great and general court. He doesn't get a line item veto.
Our governor DOES get a line item veto...
By Michael Kerpan
Wed, 07/29/2015 - 4:20pm
... but it can be over-ridden by the legislature.
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/Process
referendum
By onelith
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 4:16pm
Would it be smart to continue with the referendum that calls for not spending taxpayers money on any future Olympic Bids. 2028, 2032......?
No
By FlyingToaster
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 5:23pm
If there were a non-grifting bid in 2080, I'm pretty sure the then Bostonians will support it.
So long as it's the "grab land in use by eminent domain" crowd, no bid is going to happen.
The referendum was intended to stop this particular mess, and I for one would not support tying the hands of future generations.
VICTORY!
By Turkey Liberati...
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 2:55pm
GOOOOOOOOOOOBBBLEEEE! GOBBBBLLLEEEEE! GOOOOBBBBBLLLEEE!!!!
Yaaaaaay!!!!!!!
By anon
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 2:57pm
Yaaaaaay!!!!!!!
Congrats to all ten of you....
By moxie
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 2:57pm
On Twitter. You know who you are.
Oh come on. Not seriously?
By Sally
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:09pm
This was a harebrained scheme from the beginning with scant public support that started dwindling the minute they started talking details about how they were going to stick a volleyball court in the middle of the Common and how everyone was going to get to Franklin Park on pub trans. I'm not ready to give any credit at all to the Twitter nuts and definitely not the half dozen who showed up at Marty Walsh's house in the middle of the night. I give main props to the snow for shutting the T down and reminding us of how much work we need to have a well-functioning city,
Lighten Up!
By APB
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:18pm
Terrible decisions are continually pushed through at the expense of the majority and the profit of the 1%. Politics much?
Why not give credit to everyone who "unpatriotically" voiced their opposition, whether they spoke up intelligently, emotionally, or just crankily? We were heard! If we were able to join together and make this go away, we can change some other stupid things around here, too.
I believe this alludes to
By chaosjake
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:25pm
Walsh's quote from this morning:
Yes, it was a left handed jibe at being dissed
By moxie
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:29pm
And a two handed thumbs up for the tens of thousands who kicked this thing to the curb where it belonged from the jump.
LOL!!
By Sally
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:31pm
Ok--I admit I haven't read the whole story. I just felt from the beginning that support was extremely tepid and the more that was revealed--the money- and land-grabbing, the designs for the venues, the deep flaws in the planning re infrastructure and transportation and THEN the catastrophic snow, that it never had a chance (which was fine w me, btw). I just think the crazed anti-Olympics folks were wasting a lot of energy throwing water on a few dying albeit well-financed coals. But I guess if Marty wants to give them credit for shutting things down then they should bask in it.
As one of the ten, I think you're wrong
By Nancy
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 4:55pm
What would happen if everyone just shuffled around mumbling "Yeah, I guess I don't want the Olympics here?" but no one stood up and said "No!"?
That's why going to community meetings and taking to social media was important. Did you go to any community meetings and see the contempt from Boston 2024 representatives like Nikko Mendoza? I, for one, thought it was extremely important to get my ass out there, stand at a microphone and ask questions to get ideas out.
So, if you want to call me crazy, go ahead. You wouldn't be the first and you won't be the last. One thing you can't call me is apathetic.
Oy!
By Sally
Tue, 07/28/2015 - 12:19am
For Pete's sake--I didn't mean it so literally or personally. I still just believe that this thing was a goner from the start. And while yes, I do believe in speaking up and going to meetings and so on, I found a lot of the anti-Olympic stuff completely OTT for something that had a snowball's chance of actually happening. Then again I'm not a fan of Marty's union goons either which is partly why I didn't vote for the guy. I wouldn't have gone to one of those meetings if you paid me.
You're welcome
By cybah
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:12pm
twitter user #9
Walsh was speaking in binary.
By Boston_res
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:34pm
It was actually two Twitter posters. I think we saw them on the Fox debate.
Cue the Duck Boats!!
By Sources Say
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 2:58pm
It's like Christmas in July!!!! Let's have a parade!
Seriously
By APB
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:36pm
There should be a city-wide block party or something. There should be dancing.
Is the French Toast Alert Back Up Already?
By dpalomares
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 2:58pm
...
Does Harvey Leonard
By jmeltzer
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:46pm
have a big grin on his face?
I congratulate those
By Bob Leponge
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 2:58pm
whose hard work and dedication, even with miniscule budgets, insisted on a little transparency. The bid could not survive the public release of documents, and so collapsed on its own, proving once again that sunshine is an awesome disinfectant.
Its great to see the little
By Kinopio
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:21pm
Its great to see the little people defeat big money.
'tis but a skirmish
By Bob Leponge
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:23pm
The good guys need to be vigilant and to win every single one. The bad guys need only win once in a while.
My condolences to Shirley
By Hardy Har Har
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 2:59pm
My condolences to Shirley Leung.
Send her a fruit basket
By John-W
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:06pm
...did I say fruit? I meant poop. In a bucket, not a basket. I mean, return like with like.
Maybe she can now move...
By Michael Kerpan
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:06pm
... to the LA suburbs?
Or, perhaps, devote herself full time to something like privatization of public schools.
I'm pretty sure that's Scot Lehigh's beat
By Anonymous
Tue, 07/28/2015 - 3:54am
They could both work the neo-liberal beat.
Like a "professional wrestling"...
By Michael Kerpan
Tue, 07/28/2015 - 10:09am
... tag team.
will she remain at the globe?
By anon
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 4:44pm
If the Olympics had flown, there could've been a revolving door for her.
Now her best bet might be to keep her Globe position, where she'll be known as a sympathetic ear the next time developers want to swindle the city.
(Congratulations and thank you to the governor and all those who helped shoot down the Olympics swindle! Now I know who I'll be voting for another term, and who I won't be.)
Shirley Leung 7/28 piece already on bostonglobe.com
By anon
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 11:13pm
Strap that columnist to doomed boston.com. Save the Globe and restore its good name.
Caviar on that toast
By Markk02474
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:19pm
is deserved for this celebration! Wow, what will politicians and media do now for a distraction?
Next steps
By Hallelujah
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:00pm
Let's fund the T, build more housing and tax underutilized land.
if only
By Steeve
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:33pm
If only there was some sort of large event in the next 10 years that could help kick start such activities.
How about the election of a Mayor...
By Michael Kerpan
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:40pm
... and a City Council with both a sense of vision and a considerable level of intelligence and common sense.
Thank you
By Fitz
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:04pm
Thank you to Chris Dempsey and the No Boston Olympics people who risked significant black balling and their own careers to fight this ill-advised idea. And to the activists who allied with them and pushed the envelope. Lastly, thanks to the everyday residents who were smart enough to do their homework and realize this was an unnecessary distraction from the city's real issues. This is anything but a NIMBY exercise, this is regular people refusing to be told what is best for them by a select group of self-interested people without their inclusion or input. Bravo.
Baker comments
By adamg
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:06pm
I've moved them into the original post.
what will be interesting
By cybah
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:14pm
If the same people who were cheerleading this event keep trying to redevelop these 'blighted' and 'underutilized' swaths of land now that the bid has been canceled.
I some how don't think it will happen, but ya know, if they truly believed what they believed in, Boston 2024's main objective would still happen regardless of the games.
Widett Circle and part of Columbia Point, I bet
By adamg
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:23pm
The mayor has his eye on those millions in tax revenue from Widett Circle, and UMass Boston was talking about dormitories even before the Olympics.
Good
By cybah
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:25pm
This means we're still on track.
See folks, we can have all the great things the Olympics can bring if we just work together to bring them here. And we can do it without the headache of the Olympics. All we have to do is believe...
Now let's fix the T...
Now let's fix the T...
By MattL
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 6:23pm
LOL! Good one.
Enjoy next winter, everyone!
Mayor's Patrons Have Their Eyes On Those Millions In Tax Breaks
By Elmer
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:51pm
Redeveloping Columbia Point: it should still happen
By Ron Newman
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 9:56pm
Unlike Widett Circle, it contains a large amount of truly unused land. UMass-Boston and others should be grateful that the Olympics distraction is out of the way, and proceed with building truly transit-oriented development.
I hope Widett/Newmarket is off the table for good.
By bibliotequetress
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 6:02pm
Screw "Midtown."
Of all the points of class arrogance that were part of the Boston 2024 thinking, the assumption that everyone in Boston thinks Newmarket is a blight irked me the most. Newmarket is the only resource of its type in the area-- low income families can get decent quality meat and produce in quantity, and people like my household can actually afford to celebrate big events by getting supplied there. It's accessible by public transportation. And people who live in the surrounding neighborhoods can find work that pays better than the mostly crappy retail wages at South Bay. How is that going to be replaced by more high-end condos and restaurants? The waterfront/Fort Point development was mostly (not totally) in underused areas, and Ron is correct in pointing out the Columbia Point could use the help. But Newmarket is fine, thanks anyway.
A stadium plan for the Revs
By GoSoxGo
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 4:31pm
will hopefully be brought back to the forefront now for the area around the Fourth Street Bridge adjacent to I-93. The Olympic bid would have delayed any talk of a stadium until after the IOC selection. My support would be for a privately funded stadium, Mr. Kraft.
In addition, talks to purchase the USPS Annex must be stepped up for the expansion of South Station, which is critical for our transportation infrastructure.
Suffolk Downs would also be a fine place for a Revs stadium
By Ron Newman
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 4:34pm
Or maybe even Wonderland, if it fits there.
Don't forget building a Velodrome!
By Markk02474
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 5:03pm
so maybe we can get some of those fixies off the streets! :-)
Keirin Racing
By tachometer
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 9:40pm
When they banned greyhound racing in MA and opposition was crying about the jobs that it would cost and the entertainment it provided. I thought that the owners were fools for not converting the tracks to velodromes for keirin racing.
Pros:
1) You get to keep the gambling because keirin racing is a popular gambling sport in Asia, people that bet on the dogs could've been swayed to bet on bike racing with a bit of education on how it works.
2) A dog track is useless when there are not dogs racing on it. A velodrome can be used for track competitions in addition to the gambling use.
3) The lost jobs would either be kept or replaced with bike racers & mechanics.
4) (just for you) It would get some of those fixies off the street.
Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFRahWnA4YM
Now there is a second type of crying fish...
By Michael Kerpan
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:08pm
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20462-zoolo...
Nice Job People
By John Costello
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:09pm
Crankiness, Excuse me, Sanity, Reason, and Prudence win out over a naked aggression.
Let's hear it for not being in debt until 2067 owing to Team Handball.
I thought it was ...
By Michael Kerpan
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:15pm
.... Team Hand-something-else.
aww come on
By tape
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 7:23pm
why'd you have to pick on the one non-US-mainstream Olympic sport I really like?
SOUND THE TRUMPETS! BEAT THE DRUMS!
By Malcolm Tucker
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:14pm
DING DONG, THE WITCH IS DEAD!
Which old witch? The Wicked Witch!
DING DONG, THE WICKED WITCH IS DEAAAAAAAAAD!
Our Long Regional Nightmare Is Finally Over.
By anon
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:17pm
HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!
THE SKIES ABOVE ARE CLEAR AGAIN!
LET'S SING A SONG OF CHEER AGAIN!
HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!
BOSTON 2028!!!
By tcf098
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:17pm
Just kidding. This had zero chance of happening anyway, but it was nice to argue about for the past several months.
So?
By Boston_res
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:19pm
Onion rings with dinner tonight? Anyone?
My Monday is Made!
By whyaduck
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:19pm
n/t
If this was a Reddit board, I
By RhoninFire
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:23pm
If this was a Reddit board, I would probably get downvoted to hell. But I feel tinge of sadness than joy. I would have loved to been proven wrong - a best case scenario that made money, accelerated some projects, increase Boston's prestige, and proved to ourselves and everyone we can do a big project successfully including little infighting and no corruption.
Of course, that hope that already dashed months ago as graffs after graffs and leaks after leaks kept coming. The last hope of that scenario probably died when they released bid 2.0 and show they just doubled down on Widett Circle with a strong hint that was their real objective. Anyone lucking on ArchBoston would learn how insane the engineering it was would to pull that off.
If there was a choice, I think the best case scenario was the first paragraph. Not kill it dead scenario here. Of course, this is much more preferable than the path I have to admit it was looking to go. That, if successful, they would go as "planned" on Widett. The difficulty of making a deck for a stadium would raise the cost exponentially. We would get fleeced. Seeing no transit project was proposed nor an existing idea accelerated, we won't even see that. A lot of money made for a few big wigs, we get sacked debt by the costs of building that deck and stadium, infrastructure remained the same as before. The only positive I can kinda foresee might be a new neighborhood of "Midtown". But the costs was not going to justify the means.
So, this is much more preferable than that. But I would have like to see my ideal case - to be proven wrong and see all that happen.
And to those who want to sow salt so no one ever bids again. I cannot agree with that. I don't want to see a bid like this ever again in Boston. But if someone made a bid that benefits us - I would imagine some kind of bid that leverages the Universities with lands like Beacon Park/Suffolk Downs and done transparently with a plan that looks like Boston would not lose money (at least) - rather than this engineering nightmare and mess of a bid relying on the city for backup (and likely will have to use), I would be agreeable.
If the IOC was willing...
By Michael Kerpan
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:28pm
... to downsize the Olympics to a level that a city could put these on mostly by using existing resources, it would be different. But the Olympics are now about huge impacts and huge money.
When rumors first started.
By RhoninFire
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 4:21pm
When rumors first started. The news was still relatively fresh of the IOC reeling from Oslo turning away from the Olympics and all that stuff. Part of my old hope in 2024 did include that maybe IOC was also in a position that they would be okay with that again.
Edit: I should also note, this would assuming that Boston 2024 was also not corrupt and incompetent. Even if we were in the scenario of a desperate IOC still reeling that everyone saying it's a money loser with Paris and Hamburg not bid. We still need organizers that shows signs of bidding on terms that would benefit us - and pushing Widett Circle twice is likely the opposite.
I was in Oslo this winter
By Ari O
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 4:20pm
We should be so lucky as to have a train system that works that well.
Prestige?
By John Costello
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 3:36pm
What is the worst thing that can happen with the bid being dead? Somebody from Innsbruck doesn't stand in the middle of the intersection of Congress Street and State Street taking a picture in 2024? I can live with that.
Where do you live? Would you have wanted all the buses that are now at Cabot to be relocated to your neighborhood? They would have had to move for the kayak medal presentation.
This city will be fine. We have low unemployment, a low crime rate, terrible schools (No mention of that in any bid package), an expanding housing stock, and have had an incredible record with our sports and cultural resources in the past 15 years. Be happy.
If you want something shiny, go to the bank and ask them for a roll of new pennies. It only costs $0.50 and not billions after billions.
You asked, here's my response
By RhoninFire
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 4:20pm
I mentioned Suffolk Down and Beacon Park. Two locations that requires far less engineering and thus risks with likely lower starting costs. I'm pretty sure that implies Widett was a terrible idea. I mostly cite engineering risks and likelihood that it will explode to make us pay. But yes, dealing with the buses would also be a negative.
I never said Boston is ruined that this will not happen. Boston would be fine. Boston would even been fine even in the corrupt scenario - albeit limping. No scenario would have turned into something truly that would reduce us to Detroit or something. I said this is the second best case scenario of the roughly 3 main paths (success with hosting, no Olympics, or get sack by hosting it).
Your dismissiveness is noted. I don't want to make some kind of huge internet fight here where inevitably I will have to start sound like some big Olympic supporter here. I am just stating I that rather see a good thing (I would say - if an Olympics or any *insert big project here* gets proposed that is designed that we come out better). We are celebrating the status quo - including we have found that once again our leaders are a bunch of corrupt buffoons. I think it's a reasonable thought that the ideal scenario would have been we were proven wrong instead.
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