Keller: USOC Has Some Selling To Do In Boston
BOSTON (CBS) - The United States Olympic Committee has chosen Boston as the U.S. bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympic games.
Interestingly and controversially, there hasn't been one public hearing on the proposal yet.
That's part of the next step. WBZ-TV's Jon Keller says the USOC has some selling to do.
As Bostonians we are gold medal winners in "tossing tea" and being vocal.
Protesters and "Big Dig" sized skepticism might have scared away the Redcoats, but not the U.S. Olympic Committee.
The decision is a shock to Keller, who has been profiling those for and against the games.
"I'm definitely surprised," Keller said. "None of the other three competing cities, L.A., San Francisco, Washington D.C had the type of vocal resistance we've had here in Boston but that didn't seem to bother the USOC."
WBZ-TV's Katie Brace reports
The games could act as a shot of Botox, fixing up the wrinkles of our fading transportation systems.
But the past three Olympic Games have gone billions over budget.
"The story of the Olympic Games in modern times is more often than not a lot of big promises that wilt away in the glare of reality and people wind up getting stuck with the tab," Keller said.
And Keller reminds us of the folks in Chicago.
Chicago spent $100 million on its 2016 bid only to lose quickly on the international stage. New York City came in fourth in its bid for the 2012 games.
So the thrill of victory can quickly turn into the agony of defeat.
But the U.S. is overdue to host. Keller said about Boston's chances: "Who knows. At this point you have to suspend your disbelief."
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