Boston was chosen to be the American city that will bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics when the panel that makes the selection met in Denver Thursday.
The announcement follows a two-year campaign to bring the Olympics back to Los Angeles, site of the 1984 and 1932 Summer Games. The U.S. Olympic Committee considered LA, Boston, Washington D.C. and San Francisco as possible bid cities for the 2024 Summer Games.
Representatives from those cities made their final presentations to the USOC board on Dec. 16. The U.S. bid will now be considered by the International Olympic Committee as a host site, a decision that will likely be announced in the summer of 2017.
The four finalists were selected after a 16-month process that began with the USOC reaching out to about 35 U.S. cities to gauge interest in a bid.
For Los Angeles, it was a case of been there, done that. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti has teamed with agent Casey Wasserman to push for LA's third Olympics by promoting past successes, improvements to venues, new venues and an expanding transportation system.
"They understand that LA knows how to do this," Garcetti said after USOC's December meeting.
The historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which became the site of memorable Olympics moments in 1984 and 1932, would again be a centerpiece for ceremonies and events. Dodger Stadium, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Staples Center in downtown LA, USC's Galen Center, buildings on the UCLA campus, the StubHub Center in Carson and several Southern California shoreline locations also are likely venues.
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"Most of what we pitched was, Los Angeles has rebuilt itself since 1984," Garcetti said in December.
Garcetti, who helped give Los Angeles' 45-minute group presentation last month, said he and others touted the city's growing public transportation system and existing venues.
All potential bids for the 2024 Summer Olympics must be submitted by Sept. 15 to the International Olympic Committee, which will select the host city for both the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2017. Other potential bidders include Rome; Nairobi, Kenya; Casablanca, Morocco; Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa; Doha, Qatar; Melbourne, Australia; Paris; Hamburg, Germany; and St. Petersburg, Russia.
As for San Francisco, it's allure was touted by San Francisco Giants team president Larry Baer. The region offers a stunning backdrop for boat races and other outdoor events, but uncertainty surrounds a centerpiece stadium needed for ceremonies and track and field events.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday that San Francisco's bid was tweaked Wednesday to have the opening and closing ceremonies and track-and-field events at a planned stadium in Oakland. The Oakland Raiders and city officials have been trying for years to hammer out a new stadium proposal, with funding being a sticking point.
Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonisis have been out front in supporting a Washington D.C. bid. Boston's top backer is construction magnate John Fish, a name well-known in New England because of his prominent business connections.
The United States did not make a bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, awarded to Tokyo in 2013. Los Angeles sought to be the U.S. candidate to host the 2016 Games but was beat out by Chicago.
That bid was ultimately rejected by the International Olympic Committee in favor of Rio de Janeiro.
Los Angeles sought to join London as the only cities to host the Summer Olympics three times. Atlanta 1996 marks the last Summer Olympics in the United States.
