Why Boston Is The Healthiest Choice For America's 2024 Olympic Bid
Beantown proves a destination that’d be good for athletes and spectators alike in 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)
After what would be a 28-year wait, America is hoping to bring the summer Games home. Last night — after a daylong meeting in Colorado — the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) chose Boston as the United States’ Olympic bid for the 2024 Olympics. The city steeped in history, sport tradition, and education beat out Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. for the nomination.
The Games won’t be officially given to a city until 2017, but Boston will now join the ranks of cities like Rome, Hamburg or Berlin, possibly Paris and Istanbul — and maybe even Durban, South Africa — which may be chosen as the Bay State’s international competitors.
"We’re excited about our plans to submit a bid for the 2024 Games and feel we have an incredibly strong partner in Boston that will work with us to present a compelling bid," USOC Chairman Larry Probst said in a statement. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said: "Our goal is to host an Olympic and Paralympic Games that are innovative, walkable and hospitable to all,” adding, “Boston hopes to welcome the world’s greatest athletes to one of the world’s great cities."
1. It’s Got a Tight-Knit Fan Base
When bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2012, runners kept on running to Massachusetts General Hospital to donate blood. Overflowing stadiums at Fenway, the Garden, and in Foxboro point even more to the idea that the crowd in Boston cares. That’s a good thing for the people there: Study after study after study shows the more social connections you have, the longer you live, and the healthier you are. (Some research even suggests that having weak social ties to your community is just as harmful as being an alcoholic or smoking a pack of cigarettes every day.) But it’s also good for athletes: Research suggests that crowds with encouraging behavior can positively influence athletic performance.
A woman walking in Boston, MA. (Photo: Getty Images)
2. It’s Walkable and Bikeable
When the Bay State pitched a walkable and bikeable Games, they were onto something (training along the Charles, anyone?). No one wants to shuttle via bus and train and car to different venues—and Boston constantly ranks as one of the most walkable cities in the States. Beyond convenience, walking can boost creativity by up to 60 percent, release stress and lower depression, and lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Plus, the city’s bike sharing program Hubway provides people easy access to two wheels—another perk as bikers tend to be the happiest, according to Clemson University research. (And a positive outlook is key to peak performance, sports psychologists agree.)
3. It’s Full to the Brim with Universities and Colleges
It’s been suggested that media and athletes could be housed in Boston University and Northeastern dorms if Boston wins the Games. And that may not be such a bad thing: Cities packed with universities and colleges—the Boston area has more than 100!—tend to be packed with more educated people and more opportunities for education. This has been linked to lower rates of obesity and smoking, two factors that can contribute to health issues and even early mortality.
4. It’s Home to Some of the Top Hospitals in the World
With easy access to top hospitals, docs, and trainers, Boston hospitals—Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess, and Children’s Hospital, to name a few—are consistently named some of the best in the world. Out of them, comes research and breakthroughs on every health issue from cancer and mental health to heart disease and diabetes. Many of these are renowned teaching hospitals, which are known to have the best equipment, and most highly-trained staff—two factors that can contribute to patient survival and safety, a crucial aspect to a city that could host sport’s premier event.
5. Its Security Has Been Tested—and Proven
When it comes to choosing a host city, safety usually comes (close to) first. Not only has Beantown’s security been tested in the past few years, it’s proven its strength. David Zirin at The Nation reported that Boston’s ability to shut down after the marathon bombing “rocketed” the city to the top of the choices. An official Massachusetts document referenced that too, stating: “We believe the experience gained from the Marathon response would prove very useful in preparing to maximize the safety and security of a Boston 2024 Summer Olympics.”
6. There’s a Plan to Recycle
…Stadiums, that is. Part of Boston’s bid included a plan to host certain sporting events at local colleges and universities, use existing stadiums like the TD Garden, and have schools takeover facilities post-Games instead of having them sit empty like these venues. This will save the city a lot of money too—something that can help keep Boston on track financially and fitness-wise in years to come.
