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Boston has long been discussed as a potential Summer Olympics host, but the conversation may intensify now that the city has been selected as America’s leading candidate to bid for the 2024 Games on the international stage.
From a purely financial standpoint, the economics of hosting an Olympics are troubling. These events consistently operate at a loss and burden local taxpayers with significant expenses. The Big Dig serves as a reminder that we will be managing its costs for decades to come—meaning that most of us will spend much of our lives repaying debt incurred to finance a Summer Olympics.
That said, we recognize that certain endeavors transcend financial calculation, and hosting a Summer Olympics would certainly qualify.
As details about Boston’s 2024 Olympic bid become more public knowledge, we encourage residents to approach the question with flexibility. Consider this: if the financial commitment amounts to only a modest increase in annual taxes per household—however the necessary funds are ultimately raised—wouldn’t hosting the Olympics in Boston justify that cost?