San Diego Out of 2024 Olympics Bid

Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., remain in the running

San Diego’s chance of hosting the 2024 Olympic Games is no more, as America’s Finest City is now out of the running, The Associated Press reported Friday.

A person briefed on the U.S. Olympic Committee's decision-making process told The AP that the four cities still in consideration to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games include Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The person requested anonymity because the USOC has not made an official announcement.

Los Angeles hosted the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. The other three cities would be first-time hosts.

The International Olympic Committee will award the Games in 2017.

The last two U.S. candidates both suffered humiliating fourth-place finishes: New York for the 2012 Olympics and Chicago for the 2016 Games that went to Rio de Janeiro.

San Diego had been vying to get on that short list of host cities for quite some time.

In February 2013 the United States Olympic Committee sent a letter to then-Mayor Bob Filner to see if the city would be interested in hosting the 2024 Games. At that time, San Diego was one of 34 U.S. cities in the running.

In December 2013, San Diego County leaders put their full support behind a bid to bring the Olympics to the city, with the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voting to back an exploratory group in an effort to join nine other U.S. cities in making a bid.

In February of 2014, Vincent Mudd, the chair of San Diego’s Exploratory Committee was positive about San Diego’s chance as host, telling NBC 7, “We’re looking very, very good at 2024.”

Mudd said the process of proving America’s Finest City was fit to host the Games was tough. This included the city having to show it has at least 26 venues to hold Olympic events, in addition to the infrastructure and transportation to support all of the people the Games would’ve brought in.

In his official announcement Friday, USOC Chairman Larry Probst expressed his gratitude to both San Diego and Dallas, which also will not move forward in the bid process.

"Also, we very much appreciate the high-quality proposal from San Diego, a city that truly embraces sport and has a long history of supporting Team USA," said Probst. "Both of these world-class cities are committed to working with the USOC to enhance the Olympic Movement in the United States.”

Upon hearing the latest news on Friday, Mudd released the following statement:

“San Diego has been well served by engaging in a process to explore hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. We have an amazing city and a dynamic region which is the envy of the world. For the past two years, we have established an outstanding relationship and trusted dialogue with the USOC while pursing the bid for 2024. We are all extremely proud of our solid and credible relationship with this outstanding organization today. During this highly professional process, we have presented The City of San Diego in the most compelling and illustrative manner through our presentations, videos, location advantages and guided personal tours.

As the USOC continues its exploration of the 2024 Games, San Diego will continue to have a proactive role as we enthusiastically support the International Olympic movement and the USOC’s mission. Although San Diego was not selected to go to the next round, we are very confident The City of San Diego has positioned itself in a manner which may allow our region to actively participate should a California city be chosen as the final United States candidate city. San Diego’s initial exploratory committee began five years ago.

Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to personally thank everyone on our San Diego Exploratory Committee as well as those who joined our movement over the past several months. Your enthusiasm and commitment has been truly gratifying and personally appreciated. We are not intending to halt our effort and will continue our quest for this coveted international opportunity. Thank you all very much.”

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