Who Will Be Boston's International Competition For 2024 Olympic Bid?
BOSTON (CBS) – Boston will represent the United States in the bidding process to host the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympic games. But who will be the city's biggest international competition?
David Wallechinsky, President of the International Society of Olympic Historians, told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 that Paris would be a likely frontrunner for the Games if French officials decide to enter the bidding.
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For Paris, 2024 would mark the 100th anniversary of the last time the city hosted the Olympics.
Wallechinsky said Paris would be prepared to meet Olympic requirements, adding that many of the venues are already suited for Olympic use and the city could likely finish preparations for the Games in months, not years.
In addition to Paris, Wallechinsky predicted that Germany will also be a contender to become host city, likely either Berlin or Hamburg.
The list of hopefuls for the U.S. bid came down to Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Los Angeles has hosted the Games twice, last in 1984.
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Wallechinsky said that when rating what U.S. city would have the best chance of winning the IOC vote, Boston would not have been his top guess.
"I would've said L.A. because members of the IOC have very warm feelings based on what the 1984 games meant to the Olympic movement and creating a financial model," said Wallechinsky.
Another surprise for Wallechinsky was how early the United States Olympic Committee chose Boston to for forward as the country's bid.
"We're only in January, and final entries to the IOC don't need to be made until September. It's as if the USOC made the decision to get a head start," said Wallechinsky.
The final decision by the International Olympic Committee is expected in 2017.
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