Boston Takes Up IOC on Invitation

(ATR) Teams from Boston 2024, the city government, and the United States Olympic Committee were represented as a United States delegation met with IOC leadership in Lausanne.

It was the first official trip for newly appointed Boston 2024 chairman Steve Pagliuca, who replaced John Fish on May 21.

The leadership teams met with Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi; and head of bid city relations Jacqueline Barrett, to discuss how Boston’s bid plan fits in with the reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020.

Boston is one of the first 2024 bid cities to take advantage of the IOC’s "invitation phase," a new Agenda 2020 reform. The phase opened in January and allows bid cities to meet one on one with the IOC to discuss best practices before submitting a bid.

"We are privileged and excited to be in Lausanne with our partners – the Boston 2024 bid team and the city of Boston," Larry Probst, USOC chairman said in a statement.

"The new invitation phase is a well-conceived initiative of President Thomas Bach which allows us to tap into the vast experience and expertise of the IOC."

The United States delegation spent the morning visiting the Olympic Museum before heading into the day’s meetings.

"We are very grateful to the IOC for giving us the opportunity to meet with them and learn about how Olympic Agenda 2020 will help us both deliver a great Games and align with the city’s vision for 2030," Pagliuca said in a statement.

"We are committed to collaborating with all our key stakeholders to deliver the very best possible bid that will ensure long-term benefits for the city of Boston and the Olympic Movement."

Budapest, Hamburg, Paris and Rome are the other cities expected to submit bids for the 2024 Olympics.

The IOC will choose a 2024 host in 2017.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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