Maryland has thrown its hat in the ring to bring the 2024 Summer Olympic Games to the area, according to the Gazette.
Though hosting the event would provide a multibillion-dollar economic boost, it would also bring the challenges that come with building an Olympic stadium, the Gazette reported.
However, Dan Knise, who led a previous bid to bring the 2012 Summer Games to Maryland, told the Gazette that the region has an edge due to already existing facilities like M&T Bank Stadium, Oriole Park, FedEx Field and the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Bidding for the 2024 games officially begins in 2015 and will be announced in 2017.
Knise, who also serves as president and CEO of the Washington-Baltimore 2012 Regional Coalition, told The Baltimore Sun he is optimistic about the venture.
A 2000 study showed that if Maryland's 2012 bid had been successful, the Olympics would then have cost about $2 billion but had an economic impact of $5.3 billion, in addition to creating about 70,000 temporary jobs, The Sun reported.
David Warchawski, a Baltimore public relations executive, told The Sun he thinks the area is “well-poised to put on a strong bid.”
"We do incredibly well when stacked up against other regions," Warchawski, who also participated in the 2012 bid, told The Sun. "Yes, we would have to build, but we are so much further along than other cities. Baltimore and Washington are well-versed in handling security and high-value personalities.”
How would the Maryland-D.C. area be affected if it hosted the 2024 Olympic Games? Is this something you would want to see happen or not? Tell us in our poll and in the comments.
Greg Cohen
2:48 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
This would be really cool, and the DC-Baltimore area definitely has the facilities for a summer Olympics. Unfortunately, I get more hyped for the winter games. Hockey, speed skating, curling and some of the obscure skiing/shooting events really get me going.
Joe Thomas
8:48 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Can you imagine the fighting between 25 different jurisdictions? A big NO.
Katie Griffith
9:54 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
While I think this is an awesome idea, I'm a little confused about the joint city hosting... where would we put the Olympic Village? Laurel?
Garine Isassi
10:47 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
That's what I thought, too. Is it Baltimore or Washington? It would really end up being hosted by the state of Maryland.
Avocado
4:20 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
That's true. The athletes would ideally be put in a place they'd want to be, to see the sights and see the best of the region without needing a car. That cancels out much of the space between DC and Baltimore. They would at least want to be in a spot with metro access so they could get around easily. Maybe Wheaton!
Ruth Moorman
1:51 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
It would be wonderful but can you imagine the traffic. We think is bad now and in another 12 years it will be impossible. No, No, No!!!!
Garine Isassi
4:31 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
In terms of transportation, this would probably end up being an opportunity to extend the DC metro north and/or put in train lines connecting Baltimore and DC. If not, there would most likely be special buses brought in for it the event.
Lezlie Crosswhite
6:10 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
DC and the adjoining metro area can't handle their current responsibilities, such as keeping streets clean, or getting commuters from point A to B -- let alone keeping the power on.
VERY bad idea. If we had a functioning power grid, a power company that actually cared about more than profits, and if every governing body in the DC metro area truly worked, then maybe.