This story updates U.S. Rep. Richard Neal meeting with U.S. Olympic Committee and Boston 2024, published Feb. 12 at 1:39 p.m.

In a meeting with Boston 2024 organizers, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal on Thursday pushed for high-speed rail service from Pittsfield east through Springfield and Worcester and on to Boston as part of any potential public works buildup for the 2024 Olympics.

Members of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Boston 2024 Committee spoke of plans to host basketball games in Springfield with the cooperation of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and volleyball in Holyoke with the cooperation of the Volleyball Hall of Fame during the meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Staging games in Springfield and Holyoke would bring international competition in both sports back to their respective birthplaces.

Organizers also described their desire to host Olympic whitewater competitions on the Deerfield River, Neal said.

Olympic boosters met with Neal and the rest of the U.S. Congressional delegation from Massachusetts.

Neal, a Springfield Democrat and the dean of the state and New England delegations, has publicly called for "regional equity" in Olympics projects. He fears the Olympics could end up siphoning off public works investment dollars to Greater Boston at the expense of the rest of the state.

02.12.2015 | WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal (back of room, directly under TV) hosts a meeting with Boston 2024 organizers, members of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Massachusetts Congressional delegation at the U.S. Capitol. John Fish, chairman of Boston 2024, sits to Neal's right, and U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Boston, is to Neal's left.

He likens that possibility to the much-hated "Big Dig." The specter of the Big Dig was also referenced by economics professors, skeptical about the Olympic proposal, who spoke this week on a call organized by No Boston Olympics.

"I want to make sure this is not a Boston-centric public improvements program," Neal said. "I came away (from our meeting) thinking that this was a Massachusetts Olympic proposal."

Neal said the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics led to the development of commuter rail networks Utah residents are still enjoying. That's what he'd like to see in Massachusetts.

"We are doing rail north, south," Neal said. "People have seen the positive. It's a long-term investment. "

Olympics boosters made no specific demands of the federal government on Thursday, Neal said. They didn't mention a dollar amount. Traditionally, the federal government has come to the aid of Olympics host cities with money for infrastructure, such as trains, and help in providing security through the Armed Forces, FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies.

Former gubernatorial candidate Evan Falchuk is leading an effort to put the Olympics up to a statewide referendum.

When asked about the proposed ballot question, Neal responded by saying he is not opposed to it.

"I am not adverse to letting the public have a say on this," Neal said. "Even the Olympic committee said this is not a done deal."

Boston 2024 is competing with other cites around the world, including Rome.

Those in attendance Thursday included Boston 2024 staff John Fish, chairman; Richard Davey, chief executive officer; David Manfredi, master planning committee; and Dr. Cheri Blauwet, three-time Paralympian and co-chair, Olympic and Paralympic Movement Committee.

Steve Pagliuca, managing director at Bain Capital and co-owner of the Boston Celtics, was there as well, Neal said.

Other attendees included Boston 2024 staff: Erin Murphy, executive vice president; Doug Rubin, co-chair, Public Relations and Marketing Committee; Nikko Mendoza, vice president of engagement and external affairs and others.