Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced Friday the new Office of Olympic Planning, which will plan and analyze the Boston 2024 Summer Games bid. Walsh says he intends for this office to analyze the Olympic bid and “work collaboratively with Boston 2024 and the US Olympic Committee.”
"The Office of Olympic Planning is an important step forward in this process and it will build a bridge between the city's planning and the development of the Olympic proposal," Walsh said in a statement. He’s appointed an urban planner, Sara Myerson, as executive director, with an annual salary of $115,000. Myerson most recently served as cheif of staff and director of policy at Preservation of Affordable Housing in Boston.
"Sara Myerson brings incredible experience to the table with a background in affordable housing, finance and urban planning, and I am very excited to have her eyes on this process,” Walsh said. “Her top priority will be to ensure that Boston will benefit in the long term from holding the Games and that any planning efforts are in line with the city's overall goals."
"Benefit" is the term Walsh has used from the beginning, as he’s long supported the Boston 2024 bid. It remains in its planning stages, as does the budget. Besides Myerson, there are no other staff yet, but Walsh’s spokeswoman says the office could grow. The Boston 2024 bid organizers will reimburse City Hall for all costs associated with the Office of Olympic Planning.
