COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Columbus is one of 35 cities the U.S. Olympic Committee has sent a letter to asking about their interest in hosting the 2024 Olympics.
The Committee said it is reaching out to cities that had previously expressed interest in bidding as well as the largest 25 U.S. markets.
The USOC said hosting the games would be "an extraordinary undertaking for any city, with operating budgets in excess of $3 billion, not including costs associated with venue construction and other infrastructure."
Among the many requirements are:
⢠45,000 hotel rooms.
⢠An Olympic Village that sleeps 16,500 and has a 5000-person dining hall.
⢠Operations space for over 15,000 media and broadcasters.
⢠An international airport that can handle thousands of international travelers per day.
⢠Public transportation service to venues.
⢠Roadway closures to allow exclusive use for Games-related transportation.
⢠A workforce of up to 200,000.
"While the Games require a formidable commitment, they also provide an unparalleled opportunity for a city to evolve and grow," the letter reads. "The Games have had a transformative impact on a number of host cities, including Barcelona, Beijing and London. They enable the creation and implementation of a new vision and provide a powerful rallying point for progress."
The New York Times reports that the cities that received the letter were Phoenix; San Jose, Calif.; Los Angeles; Sacramento; San Diego; San Francisco; Denver; Washington; Jacksonville, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; Miami; Atlanta; Chicago; Indianapolis; Baltimore; Detroit; Minneapolis; St. Louis; Las Vegas; New York; Boston; Rochester; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Tulsa, Okla.; Portland, Ore.; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Memphis; Nashville and Davidson County; Austin, Tex.; Dallas; Houston; San Antonio; and Seattle.
The Committee said it is reaching out to cities that had previously expressed interest in bidding as well as the largest 25 U.S. markets.
The USOC said hosting the games would be "an extraordinary undertaking for any city, with operating budgets in excess of $3 billion, not including costs associated with venue construction and other infrastructure."
Among the many requirements are:
⢠45,000 hotel rooms.
⢠An Olympic Village that sleeps 16,500 and has a 5000-person dining hall.
⢠Operations space for over 15,000 media and broadcasters.
⢠An international airport that can handle thousands of international travelers per day.
⢠Public transportation service to venues.
⢠Roadway closures to allow exclusive use for Games-related transportation.
⢠A workforce of up to 200,000.
"While the Games require a formidable commitment, they also provide an unparalleled opportunity for a city to evolve and grow," the letter reads. "The Games have had a transformative impact on a number of host cities, including Barcelona, Beijing and London. They enable the creation and implementation of a new vision and provide a powerful rallying point for progress."
The New York Times reports that the cities that received the letter were Phoenix; San Jose, Calif.; Los Angeles; Sacramento; San Diego; San Francisco; Denver; Washington; Jacksonville, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; Miami; Atlanta; Chicago; Indianapolis; Baltimore; Detroit; Minneapolis; St. Louis; Las Vegas; New York; Boston; Rochester; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Tulsa, Okla.; Portland, Ore.; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Memphis; Nashville and Davidson County; Austin, Tex.; Dallas; Houston; San Antonio; and Seattle.
