Boston Selected as U.S. Bid for 2024 Summer Olympics

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The United States Olympic Committee announced Thursday that Boston will represent the country’s bid to host the 2024 summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Beantown beat out San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. for the spot. Assuming the International Olympic Committee approves the New England hub as an applicant, Boston and the other international candidates will then prepare a plan for hosting the events that includes logistics like venues, transportation and security.

Boston’s Mayor Marty Walsh tweeted his delight Thursday and called the pick an “exceptional honor for Boston.”

“It is an exceptional honor for Boston to be chosen as the U.S.representative in the running for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said in a statement. “This selection is in recognition of our city’s talent, diversity and global leadership. Our goal is to host an Olympic and Paralympic Games that are innovative, walkable and hospitable to all. Boston hopes to welcome the world’s greatest athletes to one of the world’s great cities.”

Atlanta was the last American city to host the Summer Olympics, in 1996, but Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics.

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Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com