Bowser Heads to San Francisco to Push D.C. Olympic Bid


Are you ready for the 2024 Olympics?

Some powerful folks in the District of Columbia are hoping that the city will get a strong shot at hosting the Olympics that year.

That includes Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser, who’s now joined a delegation heading to San Francisco tomorrow to make a final pitch for the District as a candidate to host the 2024 Olympics. The delegation, which includes Bowser, D.C. 2024 chairman and Caps and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, Russ Ramsey, former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Montgomery County Olympic swimming superstar Katie Ledecky, will make the city’s final pitch in front of the U.S. Olympic Committee in the city by the bay.

Advocates of bringing the Olympics to the District argue that a number of factors make D.C. a great place to host the Olympics: the city is ready and able to handle large crowds with regard to transportation and security; it is located near other cities like Richmond, Annapolis and Baltimore, which could host some events; and has a number of areas that would benefit from Olympic-sized economic development.

According to reports in the City Paper, District Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, after hearing from Olympic bid advocates, moved the legislative portion of the committee meeting to Wednesday. That allowed the mayor-elect, who’s still a council member, to join the delegation in San Francisco to push for D.C.’s bid.

D.C. will face off against San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles in front of the USOC. USOC can choose one city to present to the International Olympic Committee for further determination, or decline to endorse any U.S. city. The U.S. hasn’t hosted the summer Olympics since 1996.

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