(ATR) The mayor of Boston 2024 says he will not sign the IOC host city contract without assurances that Massachusetts tax payers will not be on the hook for cost overruns.
Walsh said in a hastily-called press conference on Monday morning that the United States Olympic Committee asked Walsh to sign the host city contract, a document the IOC requires all bid cities to sign in order to bid for the Olympics, as soon as possible, even if the city would be on the hook for cost overruns.
"I feel that we need more time to vet through this to make sure the taxpayers are protected," Walsh said to journalists.
"We have always insisted we’d be able to negotiate the host city contract. This is a commitment I cannot make without Boston and our residents being protected. I cannot mortgage the future of the city away."
Walsh would not pull the plug on the bid, saying that was up for the USOC to decide, but reiterated that changes need to be made to the host city contract before he will sign. Since day one, Walsh has been an ardent supporter of the Games, saying that the bid fit in with what the city is trying to achieve by the year 2030.
The press conference comes at the same time the USOC is conducting an unscheduled teleconference with Boston 2024 and other Massachusetts leadership to get an update on the bid. In addition to hearing from Boston 2024, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker will talk to the USOC.
The USOC has recently pressured Baker to deliver support for the bid. Baker has insisted he will not take a side on the matter until the independent report from the consultant firm the Brattle Group is delivered in August.
Walsh said that he spoke with USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun before delivering his remarks, and reiterated his press conference was not meant to be a death sentence for the embattled Olympic bid.
"I think one of the main concern is taxpayer dollars being used to fund the Olympics. That is why I called this press conference.
"We will see how the USOC responds today."
Written by Aaron Bauer
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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