Dan Knise, President and CEO of the Washington-Baltimore 2012 Regional Coalition, is interested in exploring a bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
The Baltimore Sun reports Knise said in London, “there have been some informal discussions with people. The energy the Olympics create, the optimism it creates, I feel that again. I’m optimistic”.
According to the Baltimore Sun several businessmen involved in the 2012 bid and local political figures support another bid by the region, although none have spoken to Knise.
In its 2012 bid the Washington-Baltimore coalition noted that it had a number of existing facilities that could be used, including an athlete’s village and stadiums, fields and gymnasiums. According to a 2000 study, the Olympics would cost $2 billion to build and run, with a return of $5.3 billion in total economic impact – a $6.7 billion in today’s dollars, reports the newspaper.
An exploratory committee is to report to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) about the feasibility of a 2024 Winter bid or a 2026 Summer bid.
Knise said he was aware of how gruelling a new bid would be and that any bid would need fresh support.
He said, “we need a new generation of community leaders. The next 14 months will tell. I do think that Olympics are good for a city, good for a region”.
