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Tulsa’s Bid for 2024 Summer Olympics Includes Fayetteville In the Mix

1 min read

Tulsa has joined London, Tokyo, Barcelona and Athens in bidding on the 2024 Olympic Summer Games.

Yes, it seems like a long shot. But Tulsa’s efforts are worth keeping an eye on over here in the Natural State.

Host cities are required to have a minimum of 45,000 hotel rooms. Tulsa, according to The New York Times, only has approximately 15,000 rooms.

Plus, Tulsa2024.com notes that additional competition venues would be needed if the city of about 400,000 people were to land the Olympics. Atlanta, when it hosted in 1996, used facilities as far away as 120 miles from the city. That puts Fayetteville and northwest Arkansas in play as part of Tulsa’s Olympic host community.

Included on the outline for Tulsa’s bid is a reference to hosting Olympic soccer in Razorback Stadium on the University of Arkansas campus. Tulsa would also commandeer stadiums at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma.

An athletic department spokesman said he was “not aware of any discussion with the University of Arkansas or Razorback Athletics regarding hosting Olympic soccer or any other competitions related to Tulsa’s bid.”

Tulsa bid organizers point to the 1996 Atlanta games’ $5.1 billion regional economic impact. If Tulsa can land the Olympics, it’s possible that northwest Arkansas could enjoy economic benefits associated with the 2024 Summer Games.

Assuming, of course, that the UA and others in the region would be interested in getting involved. And we rather think they would.

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