Despite the good number of years left to prepare for the 2024 Olympics, three cities have already dropped their bid for the chance to host the games because of various reasons. Originally, the bids came from Boston, Hamburg, Rome, Los Angeles, Paris, and Budapest. Now, it's down to the final three.
Last year, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) suffered a blow when one of its bets to bring back the Olympic Games to the US dropped out of the bid. Boston's taxpayers expressed more skepticism than support at the thought of hosting the 2024 Olympics. Another factor that the mayor of Boston, Martin J. Walsh cited was the lack of time given to him to make a decision.
"I cannot commit to putting the taxpayers at risk," said Walsh, as reported by The New York Times. "If committing to signing a guarantee today is what's required to move forward, then Boston is no longer pursuing the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games."
His decision was determined when he was not able to get a full review of the risks that the city might have to take if they ended up hosting the 2024 Olympic Games.
On the other side of the world, Hamburg, Germany also withdrew its bid because the 51.6 percent that voted no to hosting the 2024 Olympics. According to The Telegraph, the people of the city saw that the priority should be advancing the city policy about the basic needs. Although, the president of the German Olympic Sports Confederation, Alfons Hörmann, and the mayor of Hamburg, Olaf Scholz, expressed that they would have preferred a different decision, Hamburg axed its bid.
The most recent withdrawal came from Rome's new mayor, Virginia Raggi.
"We have nothing against the Olympics and sport ... but we don't want sport to be an excuse for more rivers of cement in the city. We won't allow that," said Raggi, as reported by Reuters.
Although many expressed their belief that hosting the 2024 Olympics could be help Rome's economic state by citing that it could bring in billions worth of investments and vacant positions of 200,000, the decision has been made and there was little they could do about it.
The withdrawal of city after city from the chance to host the 2024 Olympics represent the world's increasing fear of being buried under a mountain of debt. The priority of the cities has shifted to taking care of citizens. Unfortunately, this shift is making the International Olympic Committee go through great lengths to convince the remaining Los Angeles, Paris, or Budapest to host the games.
To date, Los Angeles remains to be the top bet as it is already equipped with the space and equipment to host the games. Budapest is adamant to stay until the finish line. Meanwhile, some have started speculating on how long Paris will last in the race.
