BOSTON (
MyFoxBoston.com) -- Organizers behind the push to bring an Olympics to Boston in 2024 are appearing at a private invite-only luncheon at the Seaport on Thursday to talk about the campaign that is described as being "in full swing."
A copy of the invitation, obtained by Fox 25 Political Reporter Sharman Sacchetti, shows Suffolk Construction's John Fish, Boston 2024's Dan O'Connell and State Senator Eileen Donoghue are headlining the luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. at Nutter, McClennen & Fish.
The invitation boasts the campaign to bring the Olympics to Boston is in "full swing" and says there is work to make the city's candidacy "strong, attractive and inclusive." It says the "city's candidacy is no longer just an 'aspirational' or just a 'good idea.'"
Boston's bid for the Olympics was submitted earlier this week.
Organizers of the push have been criticized for not releasing those bidding documents publicly and for not hosting more public comment on the issue. There are also questions about whether or not state taxpayers will be on the hook for the cost of the Olympics.
State Senator James Eldridge, Democrat from Acton, tells us "I am concerned that there has not been enough transparency by the Boston 2024 Olympics Committee." He says he thinks there needs to be more information on how this would benefit the state's economy."
Mayor Walsh told Sacchetti this week he would not "mortgage the future of the city away for an Olympic bid." It's unclear if potential costs could fall to state taxpayers.
A spokesman for Boston 2024 says the event is not sponsored by the organizing committee.
Chris Dempsey, "Co-Chair" of No Boston Olympics, tells us: "It's telling that Boston 2024 did not hold one public meeting before it submitted its multi-billion-dollar proposal to the USOC, but has time to organize yet another invitation-only meeting conducted behind closed doors. Massachusetts citizens had no say in the bid that was submitted in their name earlier this week. To add insult to injury, Boston 2024 still refuses to release the bid documents -- apparently they are OK sharing them with the USOC, but not with the people who will be impacted by this proposal and will be on the hook for the cost overruns. Instead of spending extravagantly on a three-week event for a chosen few, let's invest in things that benefit everyone: schools, healthcare, and transportation infrastructure."
A spokesman for Boston 2024 says this event is not sponsored by the organizing committee.
And late today Boston 2024 organizers announced they're creating what's called a citizens' advisory group to inform the public, and continue what they say is an open and transparent process.
Sacchetti did put in a call to Nutter, McClennen & Fish but did not hear back
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