Updated: 8:20 a.m.
Boston and U.S. Olympic leaders will travel to Switzerland next week to sound out the IOC about their struggling candidacy for the 2024 Summer Games amid a leadership shake-up at the top of the bid.
Two officials with knowledge of the meeting tell The Associated Press the high-level American delegation will be at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, next Wednesday and Thursday as part of the new "invitation phase" for Olympic bid cities.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting and dates have not been publicly announced.
The U.S. Olympic Committee delegation will consist of chairman Larry Probst, CEO Scott Blackmun, board member Angela Ruggiero and communications director Patrick Sandusky. Probst and Ruggiero are also IOC members.
Ruggerio recently testified before the Boston City Council and politely but firmly implied that Boston's bid for the 2024 games should not be considered a done deal.
Thursday afternoon, after weeks of rumors, Bain Capital Managing Director and Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca has replaced Suffolk Construction CEO John Fish as chairman of Boston 2024, the group trying to bring the 2024 Summer Olympics to Boston.
The group announced the leadership change Thursday evening. Former advertising executive Jack Connors and Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino joined as senior advisors. Northeastern University Athletic Director Peter Roby also joined as vice chair of the bid's board of directors.
Fish will stay on as vice chairman. Boston 2024 said the move reflected the bid's move from proof of concept to "preliminary" plans that will be shared next month, and a focus on sports management. Gov. Charlie Baker recently called on Boston 2024 to deliver more concrete plans.
“My goal is the same as it has been from the beginning of this journey: to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Boston and back to the United States," Fish said in a statement. "I recruited Steve Pagliuca because of the sports expertise and leadership he brings to the bid."
