With clock ticking, USOC leaders head to Boston to check up on bid progress

U.S. Olympic Committee leaders are traveling to Boston to meet Thursday with the group trying to get the city's bid for the 2024 Olympics on track.

Among those in the meeting will be USOC chairman Larry Probst and CEO Scott Blackmun, and Boston 2024 chairman Steve Pagliuca and CEO Rich Davey, people familiar with the plans told The Associated Press. They spoke under condition of anonymity because the meeting is private.

After the USOC's June 30 board meeting, Probst said he would be "circling back" with Boston leaders to check on efforts to gain local support.

Local poll numbers have been in the 40s. Probst said support needed to reach the 50 percent mark "relatively soon." The USOC must officially declare a candidate by Sept. 15.