\u201cI cannot commit to putting the taxpayers at risk,\u201d Walsh said. \u201cIf committing to sign a guarantee today is what\u2019s required to move forward, then Boston is no longer pursuing the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Walsh later released a statement saying that while he believed landing the Olympic Games would have been \u201cgood for our country and would have brought long-term benefits to Boston,\u201d he felt that he could not sacrifice the city\u2019s financial future while residents were \u201crightly hesitant to be supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Controversy Over Comments About Opposition<\/h2>\n
Walsh also stirred up controversy when talking about opposition to the Olympics in Boston. Although he has been supportive of the Olympic bid, he says his issues with the USOC process were about protecting taxpayers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opposition for the most part is about 10 people on Twitter and a couple people out there who are constantly beating the drumbeat,\u201d Walsh said.<\/p>\n
When asked about how that perception matched up with polls showing that support for Boston\u2019s bid had been falling precipitously, Walsh acknowledged the numbers, but suggested most weren\u2019t truly against the idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opposition in the polls, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s strong opposition,\u201d said Walsh. \u201cI think it\u2019s concerned opposition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Now Favorite to Snag US Bid<\/h2>\n
With Boston out of the running, Los Angeles now figures to be an even bigger favorite to become the American bid for the 2024 Olympics. Late last year, L.A. was considered an even-money favorite to get the nod, with Boston at 2-1; San Francisco was pegged as a 4-1 dark horse, while Washington, DC was a 7-1 longshot.<\/p>\n
Walsh\u2019s resistance to the USOC is yet another example of the mayor\u2019s willingness to represent Boston\u2019s interests against powerful entities who want to fund massive projects in the area. The mayor is also currently engaged in a heated legal battle with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission<\/a> and Wynn Resorts over a planned casino complex in Everett, one which Walsh says his city should be considered a \u201chost community\u201d for, if it should be allowed to be built at all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2024 Summer Olympics will not take place in Boston. Boston was once seen as a one of the favorites to be picked by US Olympic Committee (USOC) officials as America\u2019s candidate city to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. Now, the city is entirely out of the running, as everyone from the citizens of Boston […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":30123,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Summer Olympics 2024 Won't Be in Boston, Mayor Walsh Says Financial Risk Too Great<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n