Boston Mayor Martin Walsh says the city's bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games will give Bostonians a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to talk about the future of one of the nation's oldest cities as it looks ahead to its 400th birthday in 2030.

In his state of the city address Tuesday, Walsh credited what he called Boston's vision of "a 21st-century, affordable, sustainable" Olympics for winning over members of the U.S. Olympic Committee, who chose Boston over other bidders, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington.

He said even if Boston isn't ultimately chosen to host the Olympics, the bid will give the city a chance to think big about what it wants to accomplish over the long term in education, housing and transportation.

Walsh again promised a transparent process, including a series of public, neighborhood meetings.