San Diego Mayor Bob Filner made a bold proposal on Friday, he wants the city to join forces with its southern neighbor Tijuana in a bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The U-T San Diego reports that Filner is ‘very serious’ about the proposal. Although, it’s a long-shot.
“Looking at the Olympics seriously will show us the potential of the binational region,” said Kenn Morris, president of Crossborder Group, a marketing and research firm. “It doesn’t matter if we win [the bid to host]. The whole point is forcing the two communities to think through what it would take to do that -- so that we can see the gaps in infrastructure and institutions that we have.”
The announcement was made at the inauguration the administration’s official border affairs office in Tijuana.
Even the announcement of a potential bid has risen some skeptical voices from the public. The San Diego Tax Fighters do not like the sound of the city bidding to host a billion-dollar event. ABC 10 News reports,
If San Diego won the right to host the Games, it would have to build an Olympic Village for 16,000 athletes. It may also need a bigger airport, a workforce of 200,000 and more sports venues.
"Who's going to pay the difference? The tooth fairy? The state of California? I don't think so," said [San Diego Tax Fighters chairman Richard] Rider.
