*** Toronto drops bid for 2024 Summer Olympics | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Toronto drops bid for 2024 Summer Olympics

Toronto

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Toronto has decided not to bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Mayor John Tory announced yesterday, as public support for hosting the event had waned.

There are already five cities in the mix as confirmed candidates to host the Games -- Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome. 

But for Canada’s largest city, public opposition perhaps tipped the scales -- a poll released Monday showed only a slight majority of residents in favor of holding the Games -- and rising opposition over how much it might cost.

“I am not saying no to the Olympics,” Tory said. “I am saying not this time.”

The mayor expressed regret at passing up the opportunity to showcase his city.

“I have no doubt that the Olympic Games would put the eyes of the world on Toronto. I love this city and I want nothing more than to be able to show the rest of the world our spirit, our people, our strength, our values, the way we live together,” he said.