"The national Olympic teams from many nations will come to Massachusetts early, prior to the games."
Richard Davey
A public meeting in Springfield on Thursday heard ideas on the role that western Massachusetts might play as Boston continues its bid for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Some state lawmakers have said there should be sports venues located outside the Boston area. Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council, is working on the proposal to officials with Boston 2024.
The meeting was held at 6:30 pm on Thursday at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
Sullivan spoke to The Springfield Republican about his pitch:
"I think we can put together a package that presents an opportunity for Western Massachusetts, working with our colleges and universities, our existing businesses, to have an economic development role both short term and long term in being a significant part of the Olympics," Sullivan told The Republican/MassLive.com.
Richard Davey, CEO of Boston 2024, said that's a possibility but he wants residents and local leaders to consider other ways to get involved.
"The national Olympic teams from many nations will come to Massachusetts early, prior to the games," said Davey. "Some may want to practice and/or participate in events even before the Olympic Games. I think that's an area where the entire state could welcome, even adopt a national Olympic committee prior to the games."
Boston 2024 has touted its bid as a "walkable" proposal for the games and hosting events elsewhere in the state might conflict with that goal. However, The Boston Globe reports officials have expressed an openness to having early-round events held elsewhere around the country, including New York City and Washington, D.C.:
Ideally, the IOC would like the winning 2024 bid to provide a new model for future Olympic hosts. As a result, Boston 2024’s high-level talks with other major cities are part of a larger conversation about rethinking how to stage the Olympics.
Thursday's meeting in Springfield comes two weeks after a WBUR poll found support for the Summer Games in the Boston area dropped sharply. Just 36 percent of people in the region support bringing the games to Boston.
This report includes information from New England Public Radio.
