2024 Boston Olympics

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, left, shakes hands with Boston Mayor Martin Walsh during a news conference in Boston Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 after Boston was picked by the USOC as its bid city for the 2024 Olympic Summer Games. Politicians, both Republican and Democrat, have lined up to support the Boston 2024 bid. To United Independent Party Chair Evan Falchuk, its all the more reason why voters should give his movement a look as it fights against "politics as usual." (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

(Winslow Townson)

BOSTON -- Documents obtained by MassLive show that Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh signed an agreement with the United States Olympic Committee that blocks city employees from making negative comments about the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee, or the USOC.

The documents obtained through a public records request indicate that city employees are barred from making comments that "reflect unfavorably upon, denigrate or disparage, or are detrimental to the reputation."

The documents indicate that not only must all city employees not speak negatively about the games or the organizations connected to them but that they must actively promote the games.

Walsh Communications Director Laura Oggeri sent out a statement after the MassLive report that said the agreement the mayor signed was just standard "boilerplate" and that he does not support suppressing the speech of city employees.

"Mayor Walsh is not looking to limit the free speech of his employees and, as residents of Boston, he fully supports them participating in the community process. This was standard boilerplate language for the Joinder Agreement with the USOC that all applicant cities have historically signed. The Mayor looks forward to the first citywide community meeting that will be held next week," said Oggeri.

At an event where the bid was revealed Boston 2024 President Dan O'Connell said he was not aware of the language in the agreement Walsh signed.

A USOC spokesperson downplayed the language in an email to MassLive.

"In terms of the non-disparagement language in the agreement, that is boiler plate language that is typical of contracts between parties. Nothing more than that," said Mark Jones.

The full document as well as others obtained in the request can be viewed below.

Boston 2024 Joinder Signed by Mayor of Boston by Garrett Quinn

Boston 2024 2015-17 Policy Summary - w Binders by Garrett Quinn

This story has been updated with a statement from Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Boston 2024 President Dan O'Connell, and the USOC.