Calling the figure “eye-opening,” two Boston lawmakers are concerned about the price tag to taxpayers if the city is chosen to host the 2024 Olympics.
Infrastructure costs to the state of Massachusetts would top $5 billion, state representatives Michael Moran and Aaron Michlewitz told The Boston Globe after a meeting of opponents to the city’s hosting plan. Both Moran and Michlewitz said they wanted to take a harder look at the numbers later.
As the Globe points out, however, Moran and Michlewitz supported an opponent to Marty Walsh’s 2013 mayoral bid — and as mayor, Walsh has been a vocal proponent of bringing the games to Boston.
Although the games are nearly a decade away, people on both sides are staking their positions. Boston Red Sox principal owner John Henry said last weekend that hosting the Olympics “would be great,” and Boston Celtics managing partner Stephen Pagliuca has said the games would be a “boon for Beantown.” Meanwhile, opposition groups reportedly are planning large-scale protests to dissuade the International Olympic Committee from choosing Boston.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
