Secretary of State John F. Kerry met Saturday in Switzerland with the International Olympic Committee’s president, Thomas Bach, and discussed the unifying effect of the Games as well as Boston’s bid to host them in 2024.
Kerry also toured the Olympic Museum, which has logged more than 3.5 million visitors since it opened in 1993 next to Lake Geneva in Lausanne, according to its website.
“It is so special to visit the ‘home’ of the Olympics. The Olympic movement is so powerful, and from my earliest days I have followed each Olympic year with passion. This movement transcends all politics and truly creates a sense of global possibility,” Kerry wrote in the museum’s guest book, according to a State Department official. “Thank you for helping to break down barriers. We in Boston are particularly proud to be competing.”
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Kerry and Bach spoke for about 25 minutes, according to the State Department official, and discussed the civic, educational, and sporting traditions of Boston, as well as the region’s bid to host the Summer Games.
Kerry noted the work of the Shriver family with the Special Olympics and the importance of the Paralympics component of Boston’s bid, according to the official.
He also noted the bipartisan effort behind Boston’s proposal, the State Department official said, and the region’s proven ability to work in unison to stage major events such as the Boston Marathon and the Head of the Charles Regatta.
However, polls have indicated falling support for the city’s bid. A recent WBUR survey of 504 registered voters in the Boston area found that 36 percent backed the idea, compared with a January poll showing 51 percent in favor.
Evan Allen can be reached at evan.allen@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @evanmallen.