As a New Englander, Concordian and person who was born in the great city of Boston, I could not be more proud today.
Boston was selected by the US Olympic Committee to be America’s host-city nomination for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The city of Los Angeles was favored. Some even thought of San Francisco as the sexy pick. I am willing to bet that there were many in the DMV that thought Washington, DC had a chance.
It was not to be.
The city of Boston, with its history, infrastructure, scores of colleges and universities, and brilliant, hard-working people who are about as fanatical about sports as any in the world, won out.
Developer John Smith, who has spearheaded the effort to bring the Olympics to Boston said, “A Boston Games can be one of the most innovative, sustainable and exciting in history and will inspire the next generation of leaders here and around the world.”
I believe he is right.
There are opponents to the Olympic games being hosted in Boston. Chris Dempsey and Liam Kerr, co-chairmen of the No Boston Olympics committee, and sports writers like Gordon Edes, will have their say. And if you’ve ever followed Boston or Massachusetts state politics, you know that no major infrastructure project goes as planned, under budget and without casualties to the justice system.
But even though I know of the past, I am still excited to see my home city be selected to represent America’s bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The Olympics will not make Boston great or elevate it to a world-class city. We already are a world-class city. I think winning the Olympics will be a gift to the athletes and people from all over the world that no other city can replicate the way Boston can deliver.