United States Olympic Committee bids
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| United States Olympic Committee bids | |
|---|---|
| Name | United States Olympic Committee bids |
| Formation | 1894 |
| Type | National Olympic Committee campaigns |
| Headquarters | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Region served | United States |
| Leader title | Chief Executive Officer |
| Leader name | Susanne Lyons |
| Website | Official site |
United States Olympic Committee bids describe the campaigns mounted by the United States Olympic Committee and its state, city, and civic partners to host edition(s) of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. These efforts link municipal governments, national federations such as United States Swimming, USA Track & Field, and United States Ski and Snowboard Association to international organizations including the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, and continental bodies like the Pan American Sports Organization. Bid campaigns often involve coordination with major corporations such as Coca-Cola, AT&T, Nike, Inc., and Bank of America as well as venue operators like Avery Brundage-era stakeholders and modern partners.
History of USOC bidding efforts
From early applications for the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri and the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York to late 20th-century attempts for the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics, USOC-related bids have featured partnerships with cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Boston, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Atlanta. Historic campaigns intersect with landmark figures and institutions including Pierre de Coubertin, Avery Brundage, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee leadership transitions, and civic leaders like Mayors of Los Angeles, Mayor of Chicago, and Mayor of New York City. Earlier contests reflected influences from major events such as the World's Columbian Exposition and the Pan American Games, while Olympic diplomacy touched agencies like the United States Department of State and organizations including the United States Olympic Committee Foundation.
Notable unsuccessful and successful bids
Successful USOC-associated bids include Los Angeles 1932 Summer Olympics, Lake Placid 1932 Winter Olympics, St. Louis 1904 Summer Olympics, Lake Placid 1980 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics, and the landmark Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics bid. High-profile unsuccessful bids involved cities like Chicago 2016 Olympic bid, Boston 2024 Olympic bid, Los Angeles 2016 Olympic bid (lost to Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic bid), and New York City 2012 Olympic bid (lost to London 2012 Olympic bid). Other contested efforts included Denver 1976 Winter Olympics (withdrawn), Cleveland proposals, Minneapolis–Saint Paul plans, and regional bids in the San Francisco Bay Area and Philadelphia. These campaigns brought into play civic institutions such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York), Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and venues like Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, Yankee Stadium, and Soldier Field.
Bidding process and governance
Bids initiated by the USOC require coordination with the International Olympic Committee's candidature and evaluation systems, submission dossiers, candidature commissions, and site inspections involving bodies like the IOC Evaluation Commission and the IOC Session. Governance intersects with national law through entities including the United States Congress, state legislatures, city councils, and agencies such as the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee ethics office. USOC governance and compliance factors involve organizations like the World Anti-Doping Agency and national federations including USA Basketball, United States Gymnastics Federation, and USA Wrestling. Legal oversight has involved tribunals and courts like the United States Court of Appeals, arbitration through the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and advisory input from firms such as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
Host city selection controversies and disputes
Contentious USOC bidding episodes have featured debates over public financing, eminent domain, environmental review boards including the Environmental Protection Agency, community groups like neighborhood associations, and high-profile litigation involving proponents and opponents. Controversies arose during bids such as Salt Lake City 2002 with bribery scandals that implicated IOC members and prompted reforms, and during Boston 2024 where municipal referendums and coalition opposition led to withdrawal. Labor unions including the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, preservationists, and advocacy groups like Sierra Club and National Trust for Historic Preservation have contested aspects of venue construction, legacy use, and displacement associated with proposed sites like Queens, New York, Hudson Yards, and South Boston Waterfront.
Impact on US sports infrastructure and legacy
USOC bids have driven capital projects such as new arenas, Olympic parks, athlete villages, and transportation upgrades implemented by agencies like Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York), Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and municipal public works departments. Successful Games generated legacy institutions including the United States Olympic Training Center (Colorado Springs), the Lake Placid Olympic Center, and collegiate partnerships with universities such as Indiana University Bloomington, University of Southern California, and University of Colorado Boulder. Sporting legacies influenced professional leagues like the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and Major League Soccer via venue upgrades at facilities like Rose Bowl Stadium and CenturyLink Field, while Paralympic legacies engaged disability rights organizations such as United Spinal Association.
Financials and sponsorship of bids
Bidding campaigns orchestrated by the USOC mobilize sponsorship and underwriting from corporations including Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Toyota Motor Corporation, Visa Inc., Visa partners, AT&T, Nike, Inc., United Airlines, ExxonMobil, and financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America. Funding mechanisms combine municipal bonds, private investment from groups like Blackstone Group, public subsidies approved by state legislatures, and insurance arrangements with firms such as AIG. Cost overruns and economic impact analyses have been scrutinized by academic institutions including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Chicago researchers, while fiscal debates have reached the United States Congress and state treasuries.