Although in its early stages the United States Olympic Committee has begun the decision process of whether to nominate a city as a candidate to host the 2024 Olympic Games. In this decision process it has sent letters to close to 3 dozen U.S. cities. Yes, the Austin / Round Rock area is one of the them. Hosting the Olympics would mean a huge boost in business to the local economy. Not only an immediate influx of several billions of dollars in the years leading up to the Games, but particularly during the 2 weeks of the Olympic Games. Even once the games have come and gone, the effects will be long lasting and will undoubtedly have a large improvement on the Austin / Round Rock business community.
“In canvassing for its next potential Olympic city, the United States Olympic Committee sent letters to the mayors of 35 American cities on Tuesday to gauge their interest in making a bid for the 2024 Games.
The list includes 25 of the largest cities in the country and others that have previously expressed interest in hosting the Olympics. They range in size from New York, with 8.2 million people, to Rochester, with 210,000, and many are probably virtually disqualified by the requirements listed in the letter, which include having 45,000 hotel rooms available for the Games.
The U.S.O.C. says it has not decided whether to pursue a bid in 2024, but it has begun the decision-making process in unusual fashion. The selection pool of potential United States bid cities is usually limited to the very largest, for logistical reasons as well as the need to compete with major international cities to win the Games. The last two American bid cities, New York (2012) and Chicago (2016), each spent more than $10 million, only to be eliminated early in the voting by the International Olympic Committee.
The U.S.O.C. is clearly interested in trying again, and it is being far more inclusive than usual. It said in the letter that it has just over two years to select the city for the United States’ bid. The I.O.C. is to choose the 2024 host city in 2017.
“Our objective in this process is to identify a partner city that can work with us to present a compelling bid to the I.O.C. and that has the right alignment of political, business and community leadership,” the letter to the mayors reads. “We are seeking a partner that understands the value of the Olympic Games and the legacy that can be created not only for their community, but for our country.”
The list of requirements is steep, and the U.S.O.C. predicted the operating budget for a Games would exceed $3 billion. Cities not only need adequate hotel space, but they must also construct an Olympic Village to house 16,500 athletes and operations space for 15,000 news media members. An extensive public transportation network is required, and the letter states that a work force of 200,000 people is necessary.
The last American city to host an Olympics was Salt Lake City, for the 2002 Winter Games. There have been four Summer Games in the United States: St. Louis, Los Angeles (twice) and Atlanta.
The cities that received the letter were Phoenix; San Jose, Calif.; Los Angeles; Sacramento; San Diego; San Francisco; Denver; Washington; Jacksonville, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; Miami; Atlanta; Chicago; Indianapolis; Baltimore; Detroit; Minneapolis; St. Louis; Las Vegas; New York; Boston; Rochester; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Tulsa, Okla.; Portland, Ore.; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Memphis; Nashville and Davidson County; Austin, Tex.; Dallas; Houston; San Antonio; and Seattle.”
Being the only American city hosting one of the prestigious Formula 1 races, in the Circuit of the Americas can only help our candidacy in this race to the nomination to host the Olympic Games in 2024. Can you imagine? The Olympic Games in Austin / Round Rock! The world would be watching us, and we would deliver the best, biggest Olympic Games ever…Texas style!
