USOC: Boston 2024 Will Not Use Taxpayer Money

(ATR) The United States Olympic Committee says no taxpayer money will be used for Boston 2024.

The USOC paid Boston a visit on July 16, in a visit described as "a regular check-in" to Around the Rings. After the meeting, the USOC and Boston 2024 issued a joint statement reaffirming the partnership in support for the bid.

"The plan for building Olympic venues and operating the Games relies on private financing," the USOC said in a statement.

"It also includes safeguards to make sure tax dollars are not put at risk. These details and other next steps for the bid were reviewed as part of regularly scheduled meetings to be held throughout the multi-year bidding process."

Support for the Boston bid has plateaued around 40 percent over the past two months, despite a new bid plan released by Boston 2024. The USOC and the bid will have to convince a majority of residents inside Boston and around the state of Massachusetts to vote in support for the bid in a November 2016 referendum.

A poll in April from Suffolk University showed a majority of support for the bid if there were a guarantee no public money would be used.

At the meeting the USOC also met with Boston Mayor Marty Wals and representatives from the Brattle Group, a consultant group hired by the state of Massachusetts to produce an independent analysis on the Boston 2024 bid plan. The Brattle Group expects to produce their report on the bid’s finances by mid-August.

"During today’s meetings, we shared details of our progress and our continued engagement with the community to ensure that Boston hosting the Games delivers legacy benefits that will enrich our region and the Olympic Movement for years to come," Boston 2024 chairman Steve Pagliuca said in a statement.

"Our collaboration with Mayor Walsh and with the USOC reflects the strengths of partnership across the board and the collaborative approach we’re taking to bring the Games back to the U.S., right here in Boston."

The USOC must submit a letter of intent to bid for the 2024 Olympics to the IOC by September 15. Budapest, Hamburg, Paris, and Rome are the other cities bidding for the 2024 Games.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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