D.C.'s Bid For The 2024 Summer Olympics Is Good News For Baltimore
WASHINGTON (WJZ)—Behind-the-scenes negotiations to bring the 2024 Summer Olympics to Washington, D.C., are underway, and that would be good news for Baltimore and Maryland.
Monique Griego takes a look at chances for the possible bid and the potential impact here.
The year 2024 may seem like a long way away, but there is a lot of work that goes into bidding and getting ready for the Olympics. If D.C. were to be chosen, some of the games would be played here in Baltimore.
As the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. is already rich in history and a hub for tourism. But there is one thing it is missing.
"This is the only world capital that has never hosted the Olympic Games, and we feel like it's our turn to shine," said Robert Sweeney, president of DC 2024.
Sweeney announced Tuesday that the Greater Washington Region, which includes Virginia and Maryland, is making a bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
"I think it's really exciting. I think it's definitely something that I would look forward to," one woman said.
The exploratory committee says the region already has the groundwork needed for the games, and D.C. already hosts bigger events.
"When a new president comes into office, we have over a million people, and the Olympic Games only brings in about 600,000 people," Sweeney said. "We can definitely handle it."
Unlike the previous hosting cities, D.C. wouldn't have to spend a lot of money on infrastructure because the city and its surrounding areas have much of it already.
Virginia and Maryland won't be left out. In Baltimore, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium could host games and reap the economic reward.
"Just the influx of tourists and increased business," a woman said.
It's estimated that hosting the Olympics could cost $4-$6 billion. While they don't have exact numbers yet, the revenue is expected to far exceed that.
"Our hope is that it will not only be a profitable games but that the lasting legacy left behind will have that kind of social impact that will benefit this region greatly," Sweeney said.
It'll be three years from now -- in September 2015 -- when the U.S. Olympics Committee picks a host city. After that, they will partner for a bid to the international committee, which will officially pick the host city in 2017.
For more information about the D.C. 2024 bid, click here.
