olympics 2024

It always is amazing to me how quickly the magic of an Olympic Games takes over my life. As someone who studies and writes about sport, the Olympics are a busman’s holiday of sorts for me — I’ve been on the ground at eight Games, written countless editorials, features, and even a book about the mega event, and always take a critical eye on everything from the organizing committee to the international sports federations, the IOC to the media coverage.

The Olympics are coming -- just in time for Americans to take a big breath, settle on the couch, and root for the home team. In the midst of more political chaos than my brain can handle, the Paris Olympics might be exactly what we need right now. Lafayette, to rephrase Colonel Charles Stanton’s famous words in 1917 when Paris celebrated American Independence Day, we are coming.

Western Massachusetts economic development officials are hoping for Olympics venues if Boston becomes host for the 2024 games.Former Westfield Mayor…