After Presidential Run, Belmont's Romney Eyes Set on Boston Summer Olympics Proposal

OK, the run for president didn't go as he had expected but that doesn't mean South Cottage Road resident Mitt Romney hasn't given up thinking big.

And what is bigger than bringing the 2024 Summer Olympics to Boston? And maybe Belmont.

“Boston would be a fantastic place for the summer Games,” Romney told the Boston Globe.

“It’s a huge-impact event. It’s like 20 Super Bowls all at once. The transportation has to be completely redone. The fundraising and marketing of the Games is extensive. It’s an amazing undertaking,” said Romney, who is currently helping his eldest son Tagg – who is also a longtime Belmont resident – in his private equity firm, Solamere Capital. 

While there will be many obstacles facing the planning group headed by Suffolk Construction CEO John Fish – Belmont residents know he can help build a playground having been one of the lead sponsors to the new Joey's Park – including financing a multi-billion dollar venture and the need to move millions of visitor on the creaky MBTA (yikes!), Romney, a 40-year Belmont resident, is an immediate plus on two fronts: he turned around the saved the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City which was collapsing due to corruption and mismanagement and, second, the International Olympic Committee thinks quite highly of him. 

Romney already has a plan for paying for the two-week extravaganza with television broadcast revenue, corporate sponsorships and ticket sales while the federal government would covered security and some transportation costs.

While iffy at best, Boston is the first group out of the gate for the games more than a decade away in a country the Olympics love come back to due to massive television revenue, enthusiastic crowds and a stable government. 

While Mitt and Ann will likely be watching the equestrian competition slated for Fenway Park, it might be a good time for the Belmont Board of Selectmen to consider what Olympic Sport could take place in the "Town of Homes." Field Hockey on a newly-referbished Harris (or whatever it's called by then) Field? Sailing on Little Pond? Trampoline or shooting in the Wenner Field House (the roof is high enough and the space long enough)?

Get on that.