The Tulsa Sports Commission announced today that it has had no contact with the United States Olympic Committee regarding a bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Ray Hoyt, senior vice president of the Tulsa Sports Commission stated: “The Tulsa Sports Commission has not been contacted by the U.S. Olympic Committee nor has the Tulsa Sports Commission reached out to the U.S. Olympic Committee regarding a bid to host the 2024 Olympics. The focus of the Tulsa Sports Commission and its civic and business community partners remains concentrated on efforts to secure upcoming regional and national sporting events to our vibrant community. The TSC team works daily to bring quality events like the Bassmaster Classic; Big XII and NCAA Championship games; and FIVB World League Volleyball to our area. These viable events spur interest in visitors and sports enthusiasts from around the region and provide significant economic impact to Tulsa area businesses. We applaud the organizers of the movement for their enthusiasm and for dreaming big. In the past 10 years alone, we have seen the fruits of big dreams in venues like the BOK Center and ONEOK Field. We will continue to build on our community’s dreams by pursuing attainable top level sporting events such as the events previously mentioned in addition to individual Olympic sports and national championship events.”
The Sports Commission was joined by Mayor Dewey Bartlett who recognized the significant obstacles the city would face in hosting such an event, while giving credit to organizers of the movement for dreaming big. “Though it may seem like Tulsa would be a long shot for an Olympic bid, the city has much to offer. Tulsa would be in an excellent position to be a center for Olympic trials or a site for particular Olympic events in the basketball or equestrian arenas,” Bartlett said.