Since the U.S. Olympic Committee announced Boston as its bid city to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, some people in New England have come out against bringing the Games to Beantown.
Don’t count Claude Julien among those people.
“Certainly, I think it’s exciting for this city,” the Boston Bruins head coach said after Friday’s practice, via the team’s website. “… I think to have the Olympics here, people would realize how great this city is when it comes to sports and how it embraces everything else.”
Many point to Boston’s small size as a major roadblock for the Games, but Julien sees it differently. He was an assistant coach on the Canadian men’s hockey team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and if they could pull it off there, he firmly believes Boston could do the same.
“The Olympics I went to were based in a small town; they made it work,” Julien added. “There was a lot of good facilities and everything else … I think if you’re wondering if this city could handle it — absolutely. There’s no doubt in my mind. If they get picked, they’ve got lots of time to prepare.”
Bruins forward Milan Lucic agreed with his coach. A Vancouver native, Lucic said he was elated when he learned the Winter Olympics were coming to his hometown in 2010, and he’d love to see the Summer Games in Boston.
“I think it would be great,” Lucic said Friday, via CSNNE.com. “I still remember when I was a kid and it was first announced (in Vancouver), and that city erupted in joy and cheer. It was a great opportunity to host the world for the Olympics. Everybody knows what type of sports fans that Boston and New England has, and I think it would be a really special thing if they’re successful bringing the Summer Olympics to Boston.”
Thumbnail photo via Brace Hemmelgarn/USA TODAY Sports Images
