The U.S. Olympics Committee has asked San Antonio if they'd like to make a bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

The USOC sent the letter of interest to Mayor Julian Castro's office Tuesday, to gauge the city's possible interest in the idea.

"I think the whole city should be proud that we're included in that company, and that we're viewed as a potential Olympic city," said George Block, Chairman of the San Antonio Board of Directors. "You know I'm not sure that that's something we'd want to take on, but it does show that our city is being viewed differently."

Block said while it's quite nice to have the country and the world even considering San Antonio in the same category of places like Rio De Janeiro, London, and Beijing, the expense of an event like the Summer Olympics would probably be too much for San Antonio to handle.

"Not a chance, haha. It's a multi multi-billion dollar expense full of fundraising, for cities like Chicago with multi corporate headquarters," said Block.

Block suggested  the city instead focus their efforts on things like our current bid to host the 2016 USA Swim Team Trials and making a bid for the next Pan-American.

"Most of the cities in the U.S. don't get the Americas. San Antonio gets the Americas, and I think strategically for us long-term in terms of what's next for us after things like the Olympic Trials, I think Pan-Ams are the next step," said Block.

By: Marissa A. Wagner
Thursday, February 21, 2013
3:40 p.m.