USG Mini-Game
Olympics 2024 Bid
Our Theme & Ambitions
The theme for our Olympiad would be Celebrating Activity & Sport.
The Olympics are a passionate and enchanting time for the American public. Americans watch dreams come true with heart-pounding excitement. The Olympics are encouragement for the young and old alike to make a commitment and stick to it.
At the same time, the United States is stuck in an obesity crisis. More than one-third of American adults (35.7%) and approximately 17% (12.5 million) of children and teenagers aged 2-19 are obese. Obesity trends have tripled amongst American children since 1980. The costs – financial and human – of this are extraordinary.
In hosting the Olympics, we hope to encourage with local and national health partners to support and encourage personal fitness. The games are opportunity we hope to seize to support healthy habits.
A Little Bit About MSP
The Minneapolis-Saint Paul region is home to nearly 3.5 millions people and is a burgeoning metropolis rich in history, culture, passion, and economic growth.
We're the home of of 15 Fortune 500 companies – more than any other city. Right behind New York and Chicago, Minneapolis is home to the third-largest theater market in the US. We are tied as one of America's most literate cities.
In the most recent available demographics report of Minneapolis and Saint Paul (2006/2007): 13.9% of our city's population is Black or African American, 1.16% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 7.12% Asian American (including 3.76% Hmong – the largest Hmong population within the United States), 2.51% some other race, 2.91% two or more races, and 8.01% Hispanic of any race.
36.7% of our cities' residents volunteer, ranking us as 1st amongst the 51 largest metropolises in the US. Together, we contribute just short of 100 million hour each year. We expect this passion for giving back to our community to continue through the Olympic games and beyond.
Main Stadium: Vikings Stadium
Completed in 2016, the Vikings Stadium is the home of sport and activity in Minneapolis. The building is the permanent home of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). The building was built at a budget of just over $1 billion.
It is publicly-owned by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. It carries a standard 65,000 capacity, but is built to accommodate an expanded 73,000 capacity for special occasions, including the Super Bowl and the Olympic Ceremonies.
The facility is home to a state-of-the-art clear fixed roof, providing a guarantee of good conditions with plenty of natural light.
A Unique Games
In partnership with our bid, we have explicitly added the capacity and plans to add Women's Roller Derby as an official demonstration sport, in Mariucci Arena.
We hope the sport can continue thought about the potential for roller-based sports to be added to the Olympic programme, something that has been in discussions for nearly a decade.
Further, we hope to use the opportunity to promote women's roller derby in particular as a highlighted activity for women's participation in amateur sport – connecting our games to our broader theme of individual fitness (above) and to our diversity commitment (below).
Venues List & Information
Three Key Venues
Minneapolis Armory Aquatics Center
Cluster: Minneapolis
Capacity: 12,500Sport(s): Swimming, Diving, Sync. Swimming
Notes: Interior must be constructed.
Vikings Stadium
Cluster: Minneapolis
Capacity: 73,000Sport(s): Athletics, Track, Field, Marathon (End), Dec/Hep/Biathlon, Cross-Country Running
Notes: No new build required.
Xcel Energy Center
Cluster: Saint Paul
Capacity: 18,568Sport(s): Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trampoline
Notes: No new build required.
Other Venues
Target Center
Cluster: Minneapolis
Capacity: 19,356Sport(s): Basketball
Notes: Also home to Main Public Information Point and Central Operations. No new build required.
National Sports Center
Cluster: Blaine
Capacity: 8,500 (stadium) + 6,000 (fields) + 2,000 (velodrome)Sport(s): Golf foursomes, Track Cycling, Rugby (preliminary matches), Field Hockey
Notes: Fields require 6k in temporary seating; 2k in new permanent seating for velodrome required.
TCF Bank Stadium
Cluster: University
Capacity: 50,805Sport(s): American Football, Football
Notes: No new build required.
Lakeside Olympic Pavilion
Cluster: Minneapolis
Capacity: 8,500Sport(s): Open Water Swimming, Beach Volleyball, Triathlon (Swim), Canoe/Kayak (Sprint), Rowing, Tennis
Notes: Complete new build on Lake Calhoun required. This Pavilion will be used to create a central social space for the Olympics and for the Minneapolis community in the years following.
Farmer's Market Stadium
Cluster: Minneapolis
Capacity: 15,500Sport(s): Soccer, Rugby (final match)
Notes: Complete new build on currently available Farmer's Market lot required, picking up on current ambitions for the site.
Williams Arena
Cluster: University
Capacity: 14,625Sport(s): Indoor Volleyball
Notes: No new build required.
Grand Rounds Parkway
Cluster: Minneapolis
Capacity: N/ASport(s): Cycling (Road)
Notes: No new build required.
RiverCentre
Cluster: Saint Paul
Capacity: 2,350Sport(s): Badminton
Notes: Also slotted as home for media outlets/services.
Minneapolis Convention Center
Cluster: Minneapolis
Capacity: 3,433Sport(s): Judo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Boxing
Notes: No new build required.
Fort Snelling
Cluster: South Metro
Capacity: 2,700Sport(s): Shooting, Biathlon (Shooting)
Notes: 2.7k in temporary seating required.
Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Cluster: Saint Paul
Capacity: 5,000Sport(s): Weightlifting
Notes: No new build required.
Nicollet Island Whitewater Park
Cluster: Minneapolis
Capacity: 2,100Sport(s): Canoe/Kayak (Slalom)
Notes: Completely new build required.
Canterbury Park
Cluster: South Metro
Capacity: 35,000Sport(s): Equestrian
Notes: No new build required.
Ridder Arena
Cluster: University
Capacity: 3,400Sport(s): Fencing
Notes: No new build required.
Mariucci Arena
Cluster: University
Capacity: 10,000Sport(s): Handball, Roller Derby (Demonstration)
Notes: No new build required.
Riverfront
Cluster: Minneapolis
Capacity: N/ASport(s): Marathon, Cross-Country Running, Triathlon
Notes: No new build required.
Hazeltine Nat'l Golf Club
Cluster: South Metro
Capacity: 4,000Sport(s): Golf
Notes: 4k in temporary seating required.
Univ. Sports Pavilion
Cluster: University
Capacity: 5,700Sport(s): Table Tennis
Notes: No new build required.
Sports List
Basketball – Target Center (Downtown Minneapolis)
Soccer – Farmer's Market Stadium (Downtown Minneapolis)
Golf
- Men’s Individual – Hazeltine National Golf Club (South Metro)
- Women’s Individual – Hazeltine National Golf Club (South Metro)
- Men’s Foursomes – Victory Links NSC (Blaine MN)
- Women’s Foursomes – Victory Links NSC (Blaine)
- Swimming (Pool) – Minneapolis Armory Aquatics Center (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Swimming (Open Water) – Lakeside Olympic Pavilion (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Diving – Minneapolis Armory Aquatics Center (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Water Polo – University of Minnesota Aquatic Center (University)
- Track – Vikings Stadium (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Marathon – Adapted Minneapolis Marathon via Riverfront/Vikings Stadium (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Field – Vikings Stadium (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Cross-Country – Minneapolis Valley National Wildlife Refuge to Fort Snelling (South Metro)
- Men's Decathlon – Vikings Stadium (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Men's 8km Cross-Country Biathlon – Minneapolis Valley National Wildlife Refuge to Fort Snelling (South Metro)
- Women's Heptathlon – Vikings Stadium (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Women's 6km Cross-Country Biathlon – Vikings Stadium to Fort Snelling (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Track – NSC Velodrome (Blaine)
- Road – Grand Rounds Parkway (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Cross Country – Minneapolis Valley National Wildlife Refuge to Fort Snelling (South Metro)
Rugby Sevens – NSC Stadium (Blaine)
Volleyball (Indoor) – Williams Arena (University)
Volleyball (Beach) – Lakeside Olympic Pavilion (Downtown Minneapolis)
Field Hockey – Olympic Green NSC (Blaine)
Gymnastics – Xcel Energy Center (Downtown Saint Paul)
Rhythmic Gymnastics – Xcel Energy Center (Downtown Saint Paul)
Trampoline – Xcel Energy Center (Downtown Saint Paul)
American Football – TCF Bank Stadium (University)
Triathlon – Lakeside Olympic Centre to Riverfront (Downtown Minneapolis)
Badminton – RiverCentre (Downtown Saint Paul)
Fencing – Ridder Arena (University)
Canoe & Kayak
- Sprint – Lakeside Olympic Pavilion (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Slalom – Nicollet Island Whitewater Park (Downtown Minneapolis)
Sailing – Duluth (Lake Superior)
Handball – Mariucci Arena (University)
Shooting – Fort Snelling (South Metro)
Weightlifting – Roy Wilkins Auditorium (Downtown Saint Paul)
Martial Arts – Minneapolis Convention Center (Downtown Minneapolis)
- Judo
- Taekwondo
- Wrestling
- Boxing
Table Tennis – University Sports Pavilion (University)
Mountain Cycling – Buck Hill (South Metro)
Women’s Roller Derby (Demonstration Sport) – Mariucci Arena (University)
Our Experience
Earlier, the city of Minneapolis was hesitant to take on an Olympics bid; however, now together as Minneapolis–Saint Paul, we are returning with new experience for the task ahead.
We have the relevant experience leading up to Olympics ceremony, including:
- Hosting the 2008 Republican National Convention in St Paul;
- Delivering the major multi-million Vikings Stadium on time;
- Hosting the NCAA Final Four in 2017 at Vikings Stadium; and
- Being selected to host the 2020 Super Bowl (per Litch).
This experience has developed our cities' ability to handle major national-level events, not just in terms of on the ground logistics but in partnering with major media partners to deliver programming to a global audience. We look forward to the test that the Olympics bring.
Diversity Statement
An Olympics that we host would be no different. We would readily welcome athletes, coaches, team members, and visitors from around the globe of every faith, race, ethnicity, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability. We would further willingly make a commitment to ensure that our games and our celebrations are inclusive to all to the fullest extent possible.
Living in Minneapolis
Olympic Village (Fridley)
Just north of Minneapolis is the town of Fridley, Minnesota. Here, on the Mississippi River coastline, just a 3-minute walk southwest of Fridley station – directly connecting into Target Center and the operational centre of the Olympic Ceremonies – we aim to build the our Olympic Village (digitally drafted, right).
The town of Fridley allows for a growth of the Olympic Village into a sustainable residential neighborhood after the Games and provides for a secure venue to the venues. The Northstar Line connects directly to Target Center Station and is halfway to the National Sports Center, in Blaine, Minnesota, which is the home of soccer, golf, track cycling, rugby, and field hockey events.
Hotel Rooms & Visitors Capacity
The Minneapolis games would aim to be welcoming to as many as those who would like to attend. The local, seven-county area is home to roughly 35,000 hotel rooms – just short of the IOC's recommended 40,000 guidance. As such, if selected as the USOC bid, we would further plans to develop additional accommodation to visitors to the city.
Olympic Ambitions
Cultural Inclusion
We have Olympic ambitions for our city that runs beyond the games themselves.
We hope to integrate the games into our culturally-rich summer calendar of community events. Instead of diverting effort, resources, and time to hosting a central programme of cultural events during the games, we hope to instead support and bolster our current annual celebrations that bookend the games: Twin Cities Pride, celebrating our diversity and support for LGBT community, and the Minneapolis Aquatennial, celebrating the rivers, waterways, and lakes of our area.
We hope that in bringing the world to Minneapolis–Saint Paul, they'll get to experience the Twin Cities as they actually are. We have already piloted proposals for an Olympic float at Pride and will incorporate diversity and globalisation as the overarching theme for the 2024 Aquatennial. We'll provide guaranteed extended accommodated stays in the Olympic Village for athletes who pre-register their participation in either event.
A World-Class Twin Cities
We want to host the Olympics not only because we have the passion for it and we think 2024 is our time: hosting the Olympics will have a lasting impact on the development of Minneapolis–Saint Paul.
The Olympics provide us the opportunity to bolster and build upon our current sporting infrastructure to create world-class facilities that will help us to recruit stronger professional teams and encourage more community participation in sport. As examples, we hope to make a strong bid for the locally-adored Minnesota United FC to become part of Major League Soccer with a new Farmer's Market Stadium and to provide a world-class swimming facility to the wider community in the Minnesota Armory Aquatics Center.
We also hope to bring the Twin Cities from the national level to the international level. In hosting some of the nation's most prominent sporting events, including the Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four, we hope that our cities can show not just the United States but the entire world what kind of place Minneapolis–Saint Paul is.
Getting Around Minneapolis–Saint Paul
MSP Airport
The airport is recognized as one of the Top 40 air entry points into the United States and serves as a hub airport for Delta Air Lines.
The airport is directly connected to downtown Minneapolis and the central Target Center Station via the METRO Blue Line.
Public Transit
Our public transportation systems are perfectly positioned to support the community and movement of an Olympic games. We have intentionally chosen the Target Center as the operational center of the games – from this destination, one can take direct routes to MSP airport, the planned Olympic Village, the University of Minnesota, and Saint Paul downtown.
Public transit has been an area of recent growth as the MSP area has spent extraordinary effort in the last decade to grow METRO light rail and bus rapid transit lines, including our busiest route, the light rail METRO Blue Line. Early success in METRO Blue Line, garnering 13% of city ridership in just five years of operation suggests a continued high potential for continued growth as the METRO system expands to its five new lines, connecting Minneapolis, Saint Paul, the Mall of America, MSP Airport, and surrounding towns. The fifth line, the Orange Line, is planned to open in the next year.
In the years ahead before the games, we will use the Olympics to focus our efforts for future development, prioritising connections between hotels, cultural venues, and the venues of the games, establishing the Target Center as a transit hub for the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area.
We anticipate offering an expanded number of buses running normal routes during the games. The bus system, representing roughly 86% of public transit trips made in the MSP area, is the core to the transit package in our cities. Daily ridership (Q3 2012) is at 267,700. We hope to be able to manage a 400,000 ridership during the Olympics.
Finally, we'll focus remaining resources to develop green 'Olympic Walkways' that will create a networked web of pedestrian paths throughout downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul. We aim to build walkways that will connect venues to transportation hubs in each cluster, to make it easy and enjoyable for visitors to travel from venue to venue during the games.
Setting the Date
Summer XXXIII Olympiad
Tuesday, Jul 2, 2024, 06:30 PM
Minneapolis, MN, United States
XVII Summer Paralympics
Monday, Aug 5, 2024, 12:00 PM
Minneapolis, MN, United States
We have the dates in our calendars already!
And we hope you'll join us for the celebration.
We're hosting the Final Four once again in April 2024 (per Litch). In late June, our annual LGBT celebration takes over Minneapolis. For the third week of July, the Aquatennial brings together our community over our shared history.
Supported by Team #MSP2024
The #MSP2024 team is comprised of Geoffrey Phillips (Chair), Arnold Vinick, Michael Winchester, and Goran Brankovich.
USG Player names: Layna, Wetherington, Michael, Smith.