U.S. Olympic Committee Asks Washington to Reconsider Hosting 2024 Games

D.C. could still be in the running to host the Olympics. 

U.S. Olympic Committee officials have formally asked Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles to reconsider their bids to host the 2024 Summer Games, officials say. 

The committee said there is enough time for the cities to re-enter the race because all three cities previously prepared bids and none will have to start from scratch. The U.S. bid -- which requires only a name at this point -- is due to the International Olympic Committee on Sept. 15.

D.C. was part of the short list for U.S. city bids until the committee chose Boston. But Boston’s bid lacked political support and faced fierce opposition. The USOC couldn’t get a majority from the city, so it severed ties with Boston July 27.

The Boston problem follows other recent flops, including an embarrassing fourth-place finish for New York's and Chicago's bids for the 2012 and 2016 Games. The Committee didn’t submit a bid for the 2020 games in order to focus instead on a solid bid for 2024.

Some local leaders hope to see Boston’s loss as our city’s gain, even with the staunch opposition from D.C. residents concerned about how the games could hurt the District. 

Committee chairman Larry Probst said further information will likely be released later in August. The USOC said it has contacted bid officials in each of the cities.

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office wasn’t able to immediately answer whether the committee has reached out to her. 

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