Tulsa for 2024
Tulsa won't be submitting a bid to play host to the 2020 Summer Olympic games, according to the leader of a local group that was looking into that possibility, because of recent a decision by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Michael Jones -- a local lawyer who is one of the leaders of the Tulsa 2020 committee, the group that was doing the legwork on the effort -- said the U.S. Olympic Committee has decided not to put forth any bids for the 2020 games and will focus on developing a bid for the 2024 games instead.
That was not completely unwelcome news to Jones.
"Actually, we'll be in an even better position then," he said. "It'll give us more time to prepare and the community more time to develop facilities."
In March, a USOC official told the website GamesBids.com that the organization was not pursuing any 2020 bids, and the website reports that the deadline for nominations to be submitted to the International Olympic Committee for the 2020 games is the middle of 2011.
Jones and his friend Neil Mavis hatched the idea of Tulsa bidding for the 2020 games last year, taking the idea to the City Council and seeking its approval.
Since that time, they have been meeting with local American Indian leaders to gauge their support, as well as community groups like Tulsa Young Professionals. Jones has said any potential Tulsa bid would reflect a regional effort, with Olympic sites scattered across northeastern and central Oklahoma.
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