With underwhelming poll numbers, Boston’s bid for the Olympics never really managed to catch the public’s imagination. WGBH News spoke with some Bostonians in Boston Common today, and heard a range of reasons for that.
Asya Novikova grew up in Russia, but moved to Boston right about the time the Big Dig was starting up. And that shapes how she feels about big projects in the city.
“I am so happy. I don’t want the Olympics. I don’t want a second Big Dig. It is make my day. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Jim Laskey grew up in Braintree but is visiting from California.
“Traffic in Boston is awful as it is, so all that added stress to already crappy commutes will certainly not help.”
One after another, people walking around Boston Common greeted the news of the demise of Boston 2024 with a smile. Cami Kenney says she didn’t like what she saw in other cities that have hosted Olympics, including the displacement of homeless people and the legacy of Olympic venues.
“I don’t know I’m just always disappointed with what happens with the buildings. They’re just left empty. I think Boston could do something cool with them, but I don’t think we would.”
For her part, Ashley Haubrich of Boston was disappointed by the news.
“My whole life I always wanted to see the Olympics in person, and it’s like, now I can’t.”
But even Haubrich sees an upside to the failure of Boston 2024 to become a reality.
“They save a lot of money. So that’s actually really good, too.”
George Clark serenades passers by in the park. He says maybe Boston isn’t ready for the Olympics.
“Maybe it’s a good thing, maybe it ain’t . Because, you know our transportation is kind of screwed up from last winter. And people don’t want to take money out of their pocket to pay taxes to pay for it. Another city will get it. And good luck to them.”
