The announcement that the U.S. Olympic Committee has chosen Boston as the city it’s putting forward for the 2024 Summer Games is being met with a mix of excitement, concern, and some cautious optimism.
On a chilly night in Harvard Square, news of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s decision was a surprise to some.
“Wow, that’s amazing news!”
“Holy smokes. Wow. That’s unbelievable. Fantastic.”
“That’s crazy!”
Some, like Bob Atherton, see the possibility of a Boston Olympics as a great thing.
“Well, I think it’s good for the city," Atherton said. "Going to bring a lot of money. I think we already have the venues, and it can’t get too much crazier than it already is, I don’t think."
For others, like Tad Davies, the Olympic bid raises a lot of questions.
“With any sort of large-scale games like that it’s always necessary to think through what’s the effect on the city?" he said. "Who’s being displaced by it. What kind of impact will it have on the economy, etc.”
Greg Skidmore says he’s hoping to see some direct economic impact, even for himself.
“Because I’m an electrician right now and it will provide jobs for me," he said. "So I’m happy with that. Especially if you get into the union, union jobs are going to be all over that. Like all the construction, the iron workers, the electricians. I think it will bring a lot of attention to Boston, and that might be unwanted by a lot of people. But if it boosts the economy here, that would be good.”
Jacob Chefitz says that’s not a given.
"It’s always a complicated question, whether the Olympics are good economically for a city," Chefitz said. "You can look at differing case studies, different past cities. But I think Boston’s a great city, they’d be able to do it well, probably be able to turn it into an economically positive thing for the Boston area and the Northeast of America as well.”
Others, like Erin Pearson, seem concerned — even if they can’t find a good reason to be.
“No, I think it’s good, I’m just worried about parking," Pearson said. "I don’t have a car, but that seems like a nightmare. Because it’s already a nightmare, right?"
She's worried about parking but doesn't even have a car?
"I know, well … it looks awful, doesn’t it?” she said.
Of course, not everyone’s so invested in what happens, since Boston’s a city full of students, like Sean Paris.
“I can’t guarantee I’ll be here in 2024, but it would be a good reason to come back," he said.
And then there are those, like Tom Henry, who just love the Olympics.
“It’s a great example of how we can as one planet, all work together, so I hope it is successful wherever it is, but it would be terrific to have it in Boston, especially,” he said.
Henry will have to wait until 2017 to see if it will actually happen.
