Olympics

While I’m a little saddened for dashed hopes, I’m mostly relieved by the decision to cancel Boston’s Olympics bid. For me, as for many others, the risks associated with the Olympics appeared too great for the Commonwealth to backstop. We should be proud for the robust debate we’ve had and I thank all who have participated in it — it looks to me like we just dodged a bullet.

In the budget debate this week, the Senate adopted an amendment offered by Senator Tarr which sets in place a clear boundary on state liability for the Olympics. The Boston 2024 group has said all along that they don’t want to use taxpayer funds or put the taxpayers at risk. However, many of us feel it is critical that we put in place clear legal protections so that we are not surprised.

Senator Brownsberger shares Senator Donnelly’s invitation to residents from neighboring communities to attend a town hall meeting in Arlington on Monday, June 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m. to meet with representatives from Boston 2024 and ask questions about the Olympic bid. The meeting will be held at Arlington Town Hall, 730 Massachusetts Avenue.

Will–here are a few sources that seem to indicate a 15% to 20% chance of Boston hosting the Olympics in 2024. The data is all was all available at the time of the USOC selection announcement – if new information is available, the odds may have changed.

Representatives Mike Moran and Aaron Michlewitz have filed legislation that would create a state level commission to oversee the Olympics bid process. I am very open to the idea of an Olympics in Boston; I think their initiative is timely and helpful and I have signed on as a cosponsor.