tag:theconversation.com,2011:/us/topics/boston2024-14559/articlesBoston2024 – The Conversation2015-07-31T19:24:56Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/455202015-07-31T19:24:56Z2015-07-31T19:24:56ZYou don’t need a dictator to host a successful Olympics, just a strong leader<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/90464/original/image-20150731-17164-9hup4b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">What does it take to lift the Olympic rings?</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Bolt rings via www.shutterstock.com</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>When the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) <a href="https://theconversation.com/bostons-games-bid-will-need-publics-heart-to-win-iocs-nod-36396">selected</a> Boston to represent its bid for the 2024 Summer Games, it was a <a href="http://skift.com/2015/01/10/critics-doubt-bostons-chances-in-2024-olympics-bid/">surprise</a> to most experts – especially since it was the only city with a formalized opposition movement. </p>
<p>From day one, the bid <a href="http://time.com/money/3917161/boston-olympics-host-2024/">was plagued</a> with controversy and was dealt a <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/story/_/id/13326675/boston-us-candidate-host-2024-olympics-usoc-severs-ties">final blow</a> on Monday when the mayor refused to sign the Olympic contract. </p>
<p>Media hype about previous host cities <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/did-the-winter-olympics-in-sochi-really-cost-50-billion-a-closer-look-at-that-figure/2014/02/10/a29e37b4-9260-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html">spending</a> up to US$50 billion and fears of being inconvenienced (as well as another <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2015/06/25/when-boston-was-big-dig-mess/BLl1XcJmeufszORLWqpeII/story.html">Big Dig fiasco</a>) added fuel to the fire. The fact that previous US Olympic host cities <a href="http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Legacy.pdf">benefited</a> and did not overspend fell on deaf ears. Distrust was rampant and ultimately shattered Boston’s Olympic dreams. </p>
<p>I have attended every one of the past 17 Olympics (winter and summer), often as a volunteer or consultant, and have taught and studied sports management since 1991. In January, shortly after Boston was selected to bid for the 2024 Games, I <a href="https://theconversation.com/bostons-games-bid-will-need-publics-heart-to-win-iocs-nod-36396">wrote</a> that it would be successful only if the organizers won the public’s heart. </p>
<p>Boston’s leaders clearly failed to do so, but it doesn’t mean the Olympics can never be hosted in the US (or another democracy) ever again. That was a prospect raised after the 2022 Winter Games became a choice between cities in <a href="https://theconversation.com/between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-2022-winter-olympics-decision-45219">two authoritarian countries</a>: Almaty, Kazahkstan, or Beijing, which was the ultimate <a href="https://theconversation.com/will-2022-beijing-winter-olympics-fall-victim-to-mega-event-syndrome-42227">winner</a>.</p>
<p>It all comes down to leadership and having advocates able to convince citizens that they can organize a successful on-budget Olympic Games that will boost their city’s prestige, provide opportunities for progress and inspire a new generation of athletes. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/90483/original/image-20150731-17146-1jajrvm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/90483/original/image-20150731-17146-1jajrvm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/90483/original/image-20150731-17146-1jajrvm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/90483/original/image-20150731-17146-1jajrvm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/90483/original/image-20150731-17146-1jajrvm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/90483/original/image-20150731-17146-1jajrvm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/90483/original/image-20150731-17146-1jajrvm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Los Angeles hosted a successful Summer Games in 1984 and is still reaping the benefits.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">LA Games via www.shutterstock.com</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>It begins with a vision</h2>
<p>Any city that bids to host the Olympic Games needs to have a vision of how the global event can play a role in its long-term development, both physically, through new and improved infrastructure, and socially. Strong leaders like <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/18/sports/sp-dwyre-ueberroth18">Peter Ueberroth</a> (who organized the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984), <a href="http://www.georgiatrend.com/August-2006/The-Olympic-Legacy/">Billy Payne</a> (Atlanta in 1996) and <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/27/nation/la-na-romney-olympics-20120727-1">Mitt Romney</a> (Salt Lake City in 2002) prove the games can be a positive experience and net benefit for cities. </p>
<p>Despite <a href="http://www.citylab.com/work/2015/03/will-an-american-city-ever-host-another-olympics/388673/">exaggerated claims</a>, the Olympic Games can be held in a democratic society without causing bankruptcy as long as strong leaders with a clear vision are at the helm. </p>
<p>The money received from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through sponsorship and broadcast rights and domestically through sponsors, tickets and merchandise should be enough to cover the cost of organizing the games plus some infrastructure. It does not make sense for the Olympic movement to bear the cost of paying for all the infrastructure that is needed in a city and will remain in place for 50 or more years.</p>
<p>The USOC, as it returns to the drawing board and selects a new city to make its bid for 2024, needs to select a host with a vision and look for how the Olympic Games will not only be great for athletes and spectators but citizens long after the 16 days of glory are over. </p>
<p>Both Washington, DC, the nation’s capital, and Los Angeles are viable choices for 2024 now that Boston has bowed out. Even if the US stumbled at the starting blocks, it can regain speed with a new candidate. The Olympic movement wants to return to the United States, and we should be happy to seize the opportunity to host the world. </p>
<h2>The onus of a financial guarantee</h2>
<p>It is understandable that citizens and political leaders are concerned about the “<a href="http://library.la84.org/9arr/ResearchReports/USOA_Proceedings_2015.pdf">financial guarantee</a>” terminology of the contract, as it puts full economic burden on the city. </p>
<p>No one likes entering a contract with unlimited risk. Unfortunately, that’s the rules of hosting the Olympic Games. And if a city wants to play, it needs to make sure that tight fiscal controls are in place and reputable partners and contractors are selected that assume risk and share in this burden. The critics are full of “what ifs” and paralysis by analysis, but the Olympic bid process must continue. </p>
<p>The risks can be further mitigated through insurance, security bonds, strong commercial support from sponsors and fans (ticket and merchandise purchases) and by predetermining and preselling post-Olympic usage of venues. </p>
<p>Unlike leaders in other host cities (such as Beijing and Sochi) who may not have to worry as much about the financial guarantee due to an open government checkbook, officials in the US need to be more clever and willing to say “No” to budget creep. It takes a special leader, not a dictator, who can steward an Olympic Games to success, and Americans <a href="http://library.la84.org/9arr/ResearchReports/USOA_Proceedings_2015.pdf">have proven</a> to be the best at this.</p>
<h2>Short-term ‘pains,’ long-term gains</h2>
<p>Public concerns <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/07/03/statewide-boston-bid-would-broaden-network-special-olympic-lanes/dcnYx8bpAeQ6wzFYHCSB6K/story.html">voiced</a> over the creation of dedicated Olympic lanes on highways seemed very selfish. Could the locals not be inconvenienced for two short weeks so that athletes who have trained for years could reach their venues in a timely fashion and the rest of the world could experience the wonders of Boston? </p>
<p>While some Boston drivers may be pleased now that they won’t have to give up a lane for a couple weeks in 2024, they lose the urgency and subsidies to improve public transportation – which would have ultimately reduced the city’s terminal gridlock. </p>
<p>Are some of the Olympic Games requirements <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/10/02/ioc_demands_oslo_drops_bid_after_over_the_top_list_of_requirements.html">antiquated</a> or elitist? Absolutely, but the IOC is a well-established brand and institution (121 years old) with extensive protocols. Reform takes time, and actions <a href="http://www.olympic.org/olympic-agenda-2020">outlined</a> in Olympic Agenda 2020 indicate an awareness and willingness to work with host cities so that the end result is a win/win proposition. </p>
<h2>Keeping spending in check</h2>
<p>Tokyo’s <a href="http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/02/28/national/tokyo-2020-olympics-to-save-1-billion-with-three-venue-changes/">bold move</a> to cut venues promised in its original bid, for example, demonstrates strong leadership and a fiscally conscious organizing committee. Unfortunately most host cities continue with or exceed existing plans even if the financials put them over budget. </p>
<p>Is it the IOC’s problem that host cities continue to spend and try to outperform previous hosts? </p>
<p>Similarly, was it FIFA’s problem that Brazil <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jun/17/brazil-world-cup-people-amazon-fifa-manaus">decided</a> to build 12 stadiums when only eight were required and recommended by soccer’s governing body for the 2014 World Cup? </p>
<p>As was proven in 1984, 1996 and 2002, the United States knows how to utilize existing venues, build temporary sites and invest in infrastructure that will benefit communities for years to come. </p>
<h2>US and the Olympic Games</h2>
<p>Boston will now go down in Olympic history along with Denver as the only two US cities to back out of a bid. Denver was selected by the IOC to host the 1976 Winter Olympic Games but <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/apr/07/when-denver-rejected-the-olympics-in-favour-of-the-environment-and-economics">pulled out</a> four years before the event because of a lack of available funding, moving the games to Innsbruck, Austria. </p>
<p>At least Boston backed out only after winning the domestic bid to host. Internationally, Oslo, Stockholm, Rome and others have also declined prior to officially entering the race. </p>
<p>Looking forward, the Olympic Games will surely return to the United States in the next two decades, and I am sure whatever city receives this honor will not only make the country and its citizens proud but will figure out a way to make the games financially successful. It is the American way.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/45520/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Lisa Delpy Neirotti teaches for the MEMOS program (Executive Masters in Management of Olympic Sports).
</span></em></p>Boston’s bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games failed due to a lack of leadership, not the price tag.Lisa Delpy Neirotti, Associate Professor of Sport Management, George Washington UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/453472015-07-28T18:06:55Z2015-07-28T18:06:55ZHow Boston 2024’s Olympics bid could have been saved<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/89970/original/image-20150728-7653-1if2r2c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Boston 2024 offered a historic opportunity for redevelopment in Boston.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Boston 2024</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Boston’s pursuit of Olympic gold has been dying a slow death over the past seven months. </p>
<p>The final nail in the coffin came Monday, when Mayor Marty Walsh <a href="http://espn.go.com/boston/story/_/id/13325501/boston-mayor-marty-walsh-refuses-sign-host-contract-2024-olympics">refused</a> to sign a taxpayer guarantee as requested by the Unites States Olympic Committee (USOC), which would have taken effect in the event of cost overruns and revenue shortfalls. </p>
<p>As the city’s chief public official, Walsh was right to hold the line, to protect taxpayers and safeguard the future fiscal health and economic growth of the city and region.</p>
<p>But before the Walsh rebuff, <a href="https://2024boston.org">Boston 2024</a> had other big hurdles to overcome. From the beginning, the bid played as a struggle between Boston’s business elite and commoners – the powerful versus powerless, the haves versus have-nots. </p>
<p>The Boston 2024 Olympic committee read as a <a href="https://2024boston.org/about-us/organization/board-of-directors/">who’s who</a> of Boston corporate giants and sports celebrities. Those opposed included a collection of concerned residents, city councilors, local politicians and academics. </p>
<p>Boston 2024 and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) saw it necessary to alter and access neighborhoods, institutions and roads to accommodate Olympics venues, athletes and media. Those opposed said not so fast – we live and work here, want to know the true costs and would like to be included in the planning. </p>
<p>And tidbits such as assuring exclusive travel lanes on highways for IOC VIPs, athletes and corporate sponsors, and the high salaries and compensation for Boston 2024 staff and consultants, only added fuel to the haves versus have-nots narrative. </p>
<p>In the end, this narrative and, ultimately, the failed Olympic bid is unfortunate. As executive director of Wheelock College’s Aspire Institute, a social and education innovation center, I’ve seen and studied firsthand the many problems that plague Boston, from crumbling schools to endemic homelessness. </p>
<p>While the Boston 2024 bid raised many questions about the priorities of its backers, it also offered a historic opportunity to catalyze new development and transform the city in key ways. Boston 2024 could have been saved with only a bit more vision and a bold statement of commitment to the city – not the Olympics – by backers. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/89992/original/image-20150728-3945-1339fy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/89992/original/image-20150728-3945-1339fy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=341&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/89992/original/image-20150728-3945-1339fy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=341&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/89992/original/image-20150728-3945-1339fy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=341&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/89992/original/image-20150728-3945-1339fy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=428&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/89992/original/image-20150728-3945-1339fy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=428&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/89992/original/image-20150728-3945-1339fy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=428&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Critics said Boston’s bid prioritized volleyball stadiums and other projects over the city’s desperate need for affordable housing and school renovations.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Boston 2024</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>The wrong priorities</h2>
<p>The prevailing narrative stems from the perceived sharp contrast between the priorities of the bidding committee and those of Bostonians. </p>
<p>At the same time as Boston 2024 <a href="https://2024boston.org/our-story/bid-plan/">proposed</a> spending billions to construct new venues, the Boston Public Schools (BPS) announced its own <a href="http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/4278">10-year Educational and Facility Master Plan</a>. </p>
<p>While the former involved building an Olympic stadium, aquatics center, velodrome and an US$800 million deck over Widett Circle, the latter aimed to improve the physical condition of BPS’s 133 aging school facilities, expand early childhood programs, support dual language learners and children with special needs and promote STEM learning and technology-enhanced education. </p>
<p>Boston 2024 revealed slick plans for an Athletes’ Village that would be converted, post-Olympics, to 2,700 dorm beds for the University of Massachusetts’ Boston campus and 8,000 housing units nine years from now. </p>
<p>Yet this wouldn’t address the current housing crisis. Boston <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/02/25/walsh-leads-boston-annual-homeless-census/KcUQYPnGRPMfsN5owUUSLI/story.html">leads</a> all of the 25 major US cities in the number of residents living in emergency shelters. Massachusetts also has one of the highest rates of <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/12/11/boston-has-highest-homeless-population-among-cities-surveyed-nationwide/MFMhhCbZZFKtQezR7xAVJL/story.html">family homelessness</a> of any state in the country. </p>
<p>Further, <a href="http://dailyfreepress.com/2015/02/17/transportation-for-massachusetts-releases-mbta-funding-report/">Transportation for Massachusetts</a> (a local coalition of organizations advocating for new transportation policy and initiatives) and TRIP (a national nonpartisan transportation research group) warned of the state’s huge need to invest in its system of roads, highways, bridges and public transportation in order to support economic growth, ensure safety, protect the environment and enhance residents’ quality of life. </p>
<p>Boston 2024 agreed that transportation enhancements were needed and critical to hosting a successful Olympics. Yet they had no plans to contribute funding to these enhancements.</p>
<h2>Could Boston 2024 have been saved?</h2>
<p>Whether the critiques of Boston 2024 are fair or not, the casualty of Boston’s derailed bid is the loss of a truly historic opportunity for long-term, large-scale economic and community development. </p>
<p>Plans included development of two new neighborhoods in currently underdeveloped, underinvested areas, as well as the creation of new public spaces and commercial areas. Lost too is the $4 billion in private investment, creation of thousands of jobs and intensified scrutiny of and urgency to improve our outdated transportation infrastructure. I concur with Boston 2024 Chairman Steve Pagliuca that this <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/06/29/boston-unveils-ambitious-new-olympics-plan/jfVx6cejFvsKS2ccqbcQ0K/story.html">could have been</a> “the biggest economic development opportunity of our lifetimes.”</p>
<p>What would have saved Boston 2024? What could have countered the anti-bid arguments and sentiments? </p>
<p>One bold move: Boston 2024 and the business leaders behind it should have pledged planning, support and private funding for economic community development in the city, regardless of whether Boston won the bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.</p>
<p>Such a pledge would have instantly and powerfully communicated the goodwill, commitment and intent of Boston 2024 leaders to all of Boston and Massachusetts. And this pledge could have had important, reasonable caveats. </p>
<p>For example, in the case of a failed bid, the pledge might be downsized to $2 billion in private investment (half of the current goal), a focus on just residential and commercial development projects and the already committed public capital funding. </p>
<p>Tax breaks and other incentives to developers – as proposed in the Olympic plan – would still lure private investors, and the city would still benefit from the projected tax revenue from new residential and commercial areas. Gone would be the billions in projected Olympic revenues. But the important community development would have gone forward.</p>
<p>Would such a pledge have been a long shot? A huge risk for business leaders? Of course, but so was Boston 2024 all along. Perhaps the risk was not having gone this far, in making this “no matter what” pledge. </p>
<p>As Chairman Pagliuca <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/06/29/boston-chairman-steve-pagliuca-olympic-bid-winning-plan-for-city/jJQEAZTpeg9EFfv0PJSo0I/story.html">put</a> it: “the riskiest move of all can be watching an opportunity slip away.”</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/45347/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jake Murray does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Boston’s bid to host the Olympics in 2024 suffered from misplaced priorities, yet it offered a rare opportunity for large-scale community development.Jake Murray, Executive Director of the Aspire Institute, Wheelock CollegeLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/363962015-01-22T16:18:51Z2015-01-22T16:18:51ZBoston’s Games bid will need public’s heart to win IOC’s nod<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69738/original/image-20150122-12082-1gdt99l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Boston has big plans for the Games, but all within budget. </span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Boston 2024</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>When the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/01/08/olympic-decision-boston-bid-could-come-thursday/6RHRYSTRGgsIlPImafWgRM/story.html">selected Boston</a> – over Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, DC – to represent the US in its bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, many were surprised. </p>
<p>Some expected Los Angeles because of its organizational strength, although they’ve already hosted the Games, twice. San Francisco had the most tourist appeal but weakest plans. Washington had an excellent proposal outlining reduced security costs but is the heart of politics, and the USOC did not want to take a risk on the nation’s capital. Whether by default or on merit, Boston – which boasts great American history, passionate sport fans and a compact city – was selected.</p>
<p>With the bid in its hands, the Games are now essentially Boston’s to lose. The main obstacle may be Bostonians themselves who have thus far shown only <a href="http://www.wbur.org/2015/01/20/wbur-poll-boston-olympics">tepid support</a> for Mayor Martin Walsh’s bid and prefer a referendum on whether to go ahead or not, according to a recent survey. </p>
<p>Citizens have expressed concern for the bid’s transparency and the costs of hosting the Games. While these worries are valid, they will gradually pale compared with the opportunities gained from making Boston the center of the world for two weeks in the summer of 2024. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69739/original/image-20150122-12113-1kmebss.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69739/original/image-20150122-12113-1kmebss.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69739/original/image-20150122-12113-1kmebss.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69739/original/image-20150122-12113-1kmebss.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69739/original/image-20150122-12113-1kmebss.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69739/original/image-20150122-12113-1kmebss.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69739/original/image-20150122-12113-1kmebss.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69739/original/image-20150122-12113-1kmebss.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Here’s a rendering of Boston 2024’s ‘international plaza,’ as described in the bid presentation.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Boston 2024</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Why Boston stands a good chance of getting the Games</h2>
<p>There are several reasons to be optimistic about Boston’s chances on the world stage against the likes of Rome, St Petersburg, Paris and Casablanca. </p>
<p>First, the IOC’s part has shown an interest in rotating the location to different continents, and North America hasn’t held one since Atlanta’s Summer Games in 1996. As a result, the odds are stacked in Boston’s favor as its bid is the only one from the region. </p>
<p>Second, while the USOC has had a rocky relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at times, the two bodies have recently <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/01/18/boston-could-benefit-from-better-relationship-between-ioc-and-usoc/m1RTtCjkVBXTSqgmo1I2dM/story.html">mended things</a>, particularly over how to split the revenue from sponsorships and broadcasting rights. </p>
<p>Lastly, Americans are known for being excellent hosts of large events, so no matter which city was selected, the management and marketing of the Games is not a major concern. </p>
<p>The big question will be whether or not IOC members enjoy visiting Boston and feel welcome here – more so than Paris or the other cities in the running – and don’t face public criticism from Bostonians who don’t back the bid. A <a href="http://www.wbur.org/2015/01/20/wbur-poll-boston-olympics">poll released this week</a> showed 48% of those surveyed are “excited” about the bid, while 43% said they’re not. Furthermore, about 75% said they’d like a vote on whether or not to bid. So, much work needs to be done.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69740/original/image-20150122-12120-i2tirc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69740/original/image-20150122-12120-i2tirc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69740/original/image-20150122-12120-i2tirc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69740/original/image-20150122-12120-i2tirc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69740/original/image-20150122-12120-i2tirc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69740/original/image-20150122-12120-i2tirc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69740/original/image-20150122-12120-i2tirc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69740/original/image-20150122-12120-i2tirc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">‘Olympic boulevard’ would run along the river.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Boston 2024</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69741/original/image-20150122-12113-c2vszj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69741/original/image-20150122-12113-c2vszj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69741/original/image-20150122-12113-c2vszj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69741/original/image-20150122-12113-c2vszj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69741/original/image-20150122-12113-c2vszj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69741/original/image-20150122-12113-c2vszj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69741/original/image-20150122-12113-c2vszj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69741/original/image-20150122-12113-c2vszj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Under the bid proposal, Boston Common would become home to a temporary beach volleyball stadium.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Boston 2024</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69742/original/image-20150122-12100-nlumf3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69742/original/image-20150122-12100-nlumf3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69742/original/image-20150122-12100-nlumf3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69742/original/image-20150122-12100-nlumf3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69742/original/image-20150122-12100-nlumf3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69742/original/image-20150122-12100-nlumf3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69742/original/image-20150122-12100-nlumf3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69742/original/image-20150122-12100-nlumf3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Boston’s many universities will also take part, with Harvard hosting fencing, hockey and water polo events.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Boston 2024</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Addressing concerns and staying focused</h2>
<p>Once Boston was announced as the US candidate earlier this month, the mayor and the <a href="http://www.2024boston.org">Boston 2024 team</a> took action to address these concerns by announcing a series of public meetings and addressing opposition directly. </p>
<p>Although some damage has already been done by the dearth of details initially released on the bid, the public needs to understand that up to this point, there was not really that much to share, as the plans submitted to the USOC are initial concepts and nothing set in stone. There is still plenty of time for disclosure and public comment, and indeed the mayor released <a href="http://www.2024boston.org/docs">bidding documents</a> this week and said he was even <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/boston-mayor-says-hes-open-to-vote-on-2024-olympics-1421787427">open to a referendum</a>. </p>
<p>The way the city handles the opposition moving forward is critical so that the IOC feels confident about the support of the Games in Boston. </p>
<p>In a democratic society, 100% approval, however, is not expected. Those calling for a referendum should consider the public costs involved and the ultimate outcome. With the majority of funding coming from private sources, is this an appropriate reason for a referendum? </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69743/original/image-20150122-12095-1popvpe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69743/original/image-20150122-12095-1popvpe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69743/original/image-20150122-12095-1popvpe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69743/original/image-20150122-12095-1popvpe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69743/original/image-20150122-12095-1popvpe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69743/original/image-20150122-12095-1popvpe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69743/original/image-20150122-12095-1popvpe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69743/original/image-20150122-12095-1popvpe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The proposed Olympic Stadium would be temporary and rise in Boston Midtown.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Boston 2024</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Costs won’t be a problem</h2>
<p>What Bostonians need to understand is that although other Games have cost more than $50 billion, this doesn’t happen when the United States plays host because most of the infrastructure is already in place and reliable, as is the case with Boston. In areas where infrastructure needs to be upgraded, the Olympics accelerates such projects and often attracts federal dollars to help finance them. For example, federal transportation funds were allocated to Atlanta six years earlier than had been planned due to the Games. </p>
<p>Furthermore, depending on available resources, history shows that host cities prioritize “wants” versus “needs” and not all the improvements listed in the bid document are completed. The IOC’s Agenda 2020 Reforms also encourage Games to be more sustainable, affordable and beneficial to host cities. </p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/01/08/olympic-decision-boston-bid-could-come-thursday/6RHRYSTRGgsIlPImafWgRM/story.html">bid calls for a budget</a> of less than $5 billion, which would be financed mainly through broadcast fees, corporate sponsorships and ticket sales. And organizers say they don’t intend to use public money on infrastructure improvements, beyond what’s already been set in motion. </p>
<p>Even if costs do go higher, any changes made for the Games will benefit Boston for years to come, and if new sources of funds can pay for improvements such as in transportation the city needs anyway over the coming decades, what’s not to like? </p>
<p>With the growing IOC revenues that the host city shares, the organizational budget of the Olympic Games is covered except for local infrastructure that will offer rewards long after the torch goes out. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69679/original/image-20150121-29764-191skzd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/69679/original/image-20150121-29764-191skzd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69679/original/image-20150121-29764-191skzd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69679/original/image-20150121-29764-191skzd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69679/original/image-20150121-29764-191skzd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69679/original/image-20150121-29764-191skzd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/69679/original/image-20150121-29764-191skzd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Atlanta’s 1996 Games were a model in keeping costs from spiraling out of control and still provides the city with benefits.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Look at the benefits of the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Georgia Tech received a new dorm and swimming pool, and the Braves got a new baseball stadium, all without tax payer dollars. These are just a few examples of the gains that are often overlooked. </p>
<p>Once citizens understand the opportunities and the fact that Boston will not need to build much of the infrastructure from scratch like some previous host cities, public fears should calm down. As other US-hosted Olympic Games have illustrated, private and federal investments that would not otherwise be spent in the Boston area will flow in, and the city will become better for it.</p>
<h2>Building a narrative</h2>
<p>In reality, the bidding process right now is more about the competition and each city’s narrative than what technical plans are put in writing. Rio de Janeiro won the 2016 Games on the platform of being the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/sports/03olympics.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">first host in South America</a>. Beijing is most likely going to host the 2022 Winter Games because the only other bidder is Almaty, Kazakhstan. </p>
<p>For 2024, if South Africa were to submit a serious bid for Johannesburg or Durbin, Boston’s could be in jeopardy. Africa has never hosted the Games, and with IOC members eager to spread the Olympics far and wide, it could make a compelling story. </p>
<p>For now, Boston needs to address the concerns of opponents by sharing information about revenue sources and use of existing and temporary venues. Examples from the Los Angeles 1984, Atlanta 1996 and Salt Lake City 2002 Games should also be highlighted. </p>
<p>For the long-haul, Boston should be confident but humble, offer a top-notch technical plan with an equally powerful story and welcome the world with limited disruption from opposition groups. Just as London showcased its passion for sport and focus on athletes and youth, Boston can do the same to win the bid.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/36396/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Lisa Delpy Neirotti teaches for the MEMOS program (Executive Masters in Management of Olympic Sports).
</span></em></p>When the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) selected Boston – over Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, DC – to represent the US in its bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, many were surprised…Lisa Delpy Neirotti, Associate Professor of Sport Management, George Washington UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.