(ATR) Boston 2024 believes they can win back a majority of Bostonians to support the bid.
The Boston Globe reported on Mar. 23, that Boston 2024 is willing to reconsider different methods to get the public to back the bid, including holding a referendum.
"If we do our jobs over the next two years, we will win a majority," Richard Davey, chief executive of Boston 2024, told the Globe.
"It’s clear we have to find a measure to show that support. How we measure, we’re open to that."
When initially launching the bid in January, Boston 2024 was opposed to a referendum but has begun changing its tune after recent polls have shown a nadir in public support. A poll released on Mar. 19 by public radio affiliate WBUR showed only 36 percent support for the bid.
The ad said Boston would only submit a bid to the IOC if "a majority of people in Massachusetts support bidding for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games."
"Community support is extremely important to the success of any Olympic bid," Patrick Sandusky, chief communications officer for the USOC, said in a statement to the Globe.
"The USOC supports any and all steps that Boston 2024 believes necessary to demonstrate the public’s support for Boston’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games."
Boston 2024 continued its public outreach on Mar. 23 by purchasing advertisements in two Boston newspapers outlining 10 "core principles" the bid will follow in winning over the public.
"The last couple weeks, we’ve been distracted from our core principles," Davey said to the Globe.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh told the Boston Herald that he thinks there will be continued conversations on a possible referendum. Walsh, who in January said he was opposed to a referendum, did not express support for a ballot measure, but said he welcomed dialogue on the issue.
"I think in the beginning I felt that we will still have to do an explanation to the people of Boston to explain what the Olympics are all about," Walsh said to the Herald on Mar. 23.
"If somebody puts forth a ballot question, certainly that’s the will of the voter. The voter can decide that and you can see what happens."
Written by Aaron Bauer
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