The United States Olympic Committee seems ready to bid for the 2024 Summer Games. But the hard part is deciding which of the four finalists — Boston, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco — has the best chance of being chosen by the International Olympic Committee. The U.S.O.C. could make its selection as soon as this week, so we asked New York Times reporters in each city to describe the view from each place. — nytimes.com
Some tastier nuggets from each city's reporter:
Boston:
"Boston’s modest $4.5 billion proposal envisions a new Olympic model: a walkable, bikeable, sustainable Games that uses mostly pre-existing structures. This compact city of 646,000 plans a downsized, compressed, antisprawl Olympics. No venue would be more than a 10-minute walk from a subway stop or a commuter rail line."
Los Angeles:
"Imagine the opening ceremony Los Angeles could put together: Meryl Streep riding sidesaddle on a dolphin. Magic Johnson and Mama Kardashian carrying the torch. Fireworks sponsored by “Star Wars: Episode Ad Nauseam: Does It Really Matter What We Subtitle These Anymore, Part 1.”"
San Francisco:
"Picture a hilly marathon tracing up the crooked block of Lombard Street. Or mountain biking in Marin County, the birthplace of the sport. Or the triathlon off Alcatraz, beach volleyball at City Hall, rowing in McCovey Cove. And if the Olympics still insist on golf, there is the Olympic Club or Pebble Beach."
Washington:
"The Potomac River is a world-class kayaking venue and a possible host for rowing, and the Anacostia is well on its way. Our topography is good for cycling, and we have a strong — even White House-centered — history with equestrian sports. The area has produced champions in swimming, running and triathlon. We host a pro tennis tournament every year, as well as pro golf tournaments. In short, the hypercompetitive neurosis that fuels our political culture has been good for athleticism."
9 Comments
Hosting the olympics is the kiss of death. But the thought of all that development money is just too much too pass up ...
beat me to it, it's just more cake to be eaten.
I thought Boston withdrew its bid.
This is a 4 year old news article.
Which *magically* appeared at the top of the stack.
No magic. The news articles on the forum index are ordered by date of latest comment.
Catch-22. I wouldn't have commented if it hadn't appeared at the top of the stack.
San Francisco:
"Picture a marathon runner stopping to wipe feces off a shoe. Or being buzzed by an asshole in an Audi while mountain biking in Marin County, the birthplace of the sport. Or the triathlon off Alcatraz, finding needles in the sand while playing beach volleyball at City Hall, rowing in McCovey Cove. And if the Olympics still insist on golf, there is the Olympic Club or Pebble Beach."
Touche'.
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