U.S. Cities Begin Laying Out Plans for 2024 Olympics -- Media Watch

(ATR)The editorial staff of theHarvard Crimson, a daily student newspaper of Harvard University in Boston, discusses the city's Olympic aspirations. "The main issue for Boston will be the lavish demands of the IOC."

The editors point to the bid race for the 2022 Winter Olympics to highlight what they say is a result of the IOC's "domineering attitude" toward host cities."So many cities have dropped out of the race to host the 2022 that the only remaining options are Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan."

Ultimately, the editors conclude Boston should not host the 2024 Games. "While hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics would undoubtedly be a source of pride for Boston, the venture would bring with it unspecified and likely enormous costs and would require far more public participation than supporters appear willing to allow."

The Boston Globe breaks down the way in which the group promoting Boston's 2024 bid plans to pay for the Summer Games. "The proposed financing planavoids public funds, outside of security costs from the federal government and transportation improvements.

"It's already approved and on the drawing board."

The team behind Washington D.C.'s 2024 Olympic hopes is laying out its plans for the Games. The Washington Post's Jonathan O'Connell says, "Organizers of Washington’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics have quietly begun advancing their vision for how and where they would put on the 28 events of the Games.

"The team of executives behind the effort has raised $5 million, opened an office in Foggy Bottom and begun marketing their bid with a new logo affixed to T-shirts, sunglasses and a Twitter account."

A letter written to the editorial staff of The Washington Post suggests "there's no reason to bring the Olympics to Washington." The letter's author says, "Poorly designed and maintained roads, extensive construction work and the loopy shenanigans of the Secret Service already make it next to impossible most days to move across town with even minimal efficiency."

C.W. Nevius, columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle, says San Francisco's Olympic dreams are focused on a landfill near the city's Candlestick Park. "The people hoping to lure the 2024 Summer Games here say that’s where there’s room to build a $350 million temporary stadium to host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as track and field events.

"In other words, in 10 years that patch of landfill and wilderness--known as the Brisbane Baylands--could become the centerpiece for the biggest sporting event in the world."

The San Francisco Chronicle's social media manager, Marcus Gilmer, asks, "Do you really want the Olympics San Francisco?"Gilmer adds, "To be fair, proponents of the SF bid are touting improvements to things like transportation and housing to support their bid.

"It’s a refreshing change of pace but it doesn't change the fact that the estimated cost of hosting the Games (both Boston and SF project a cost of around $4.5 billion) is ridiculously low."

In Other News

Nizaar Kinsella, video journalist at theDaily Mirror, describes his recent trip to Lausanne."As a place to spend a city break, Lausanne has plenty to shout about,"Kinsella says. "And the Swiss home of the IOC is certainly on the podium for lively weekend nightlife."

Ma'an News Agency features a brief written by Nadia Hijab,the executive director of the non-profit organization Al-Shabaka,and Diana Buttu, a lawyer who previously served as a legal adviser toAl-Shabaka.Hijab and Buttu both say, "The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) must stop buying time."

Despite hints of progress from the PLO, Hijab and Buttu say,"All this talk about new initiatives rings hollow because the PLO has done so little with the many legal tools already available to it."Both authors suggest an initiative that could affect the Olympic Movement."The IOC, of which both Palestine and Israel are full members, is another venue where the PLO should be active in seeking the review of Israel’s membership status."

Compiled byNicole Bennett

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