Boston Won't Submit Olympic Bid Without Majority Support, Organizers Say
BOSTON (CBS) -- The people behind Boston's bid for the Summer Olympics say they won't go forward without public support.
In full-page ads in The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald Monday, Boston 2024 says it will submit a final international bid for the games only if a majority of people in the state support it.
"The bottom line is we want public support to move the Olympics forward," Boston 2024 CEO Richard Davey told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. "Our bid's only going to be successful if we have that support."
The International Olympic Committee is expected to vote on a host city in 2017.
Davey said he agreed with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's recent assessment that "distractions" have dampened early public enthusiasm for the games.
Watch Walsh on Keller @ Large:
Former Gov. Deval Patrick made headlines when it was revealed that he was to get a $7,500-per-day fee for traveling on behalf of Boston 2024, but he later said he would help without any consulting pay. The poor performance of the MBTA during a historic winter has also raised doubts that Boston could handle transportation during the games.
"Obviously the last couple weeks I think we've been talking about other things," Davey said. "We want to hold a games in Boston and Massachusetts that makes sense for Boston and Massachusetts, that can create jobs, economic opportunity and showcase to the world what we believe is a world-class city."
Davey said Boston 2024 wants a "measurable way" to show majority support for the Olympics, and there's talk of a possible voter referendum.
But Secretary of State Bill Galvin says putting a binding referendum together is a lengthy and cumbersome process. A non-binding referendum is easier, but still takes planning.
Galvin suggests having the Legislature include a non-binding referendum into next year's presidential primary, which takes place in March.
"That's probably the most practical thing, if everyone agrees that we want to get a snapshot of how the public feels about this," Galvin told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports: