Ad agency Hill Holiday and PR firm Northwind Strategies led the promotional campaign supporting Boston's successful bid to be the US nominee for the 2024 Olympic Games.

bosotnThe US Olympic Committee on Jan. 8 announced Boston beat out competing bids from Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco in the 22-month competition for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The city, which overcame some opposition from within and faces a Sept. 15 deadline for the global showdown, will square off against bids from Rome, Germany and potential bids from Paris and/or South Africa.

"Boston is a global hub for education, health care, research and technology," said bid chairman John Fish, CEO of building giant Suffolk Construction. "We are passionate about sports because we believe in the power of sport to transform our city and inspire the world’s youth."

Karen Kaplan, CEO of Hill Holiday, and Doug Rubin, founding partner of Northwind Strategies, led the Boston 2024 PR and marketing committee. Rubin is a well-connected PR and political operative who scored wins with the campaigns of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Joe Kennedy III and Gov. Deval Patrick, among others, serving as chief of staff to Patrick for three years. Secretary of State John Kerry's former Senate press secretary Larry Carpman is also a partner at Northwind.

Former US Sen. Mo Cowan of ML Strategies worked the government relations front for the Boston bid. Nikko Mendoza, a former Patrick aide, is VP of engagement and external affairs for the Boston 2024 bid.

The International Olympic Committee will decide the winning 2024 bid in 2017 after bids are finalized in early 2016. New York (2012) and Chicago (2016) fell short in recent competitions. The last US city to host the Games was Atlanta in 1996, following Los Angeles in 1984 and St. Louis in 1932.

Hill Holiday is part of Interpublic.