Posted by
Rich from NW Indiana on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 6:15:56 PM
Today Mayor Daley signed the
standard contract that covers the hosting of the Olympic Games. He hopes that Chicago will host the 2016 games.
So,,,,, so what. Chicago hasn't won the games yet. Yeah, it hasn't,,,, yet.
Most hosting cities and governments outside the U.S. offer funding guarantees that will cover financial losses. In spite of all the boosters that the games bring in money, they really don't. Most host cities end up eating the losses, or I should say taxpayers do since it was once taxpayers money.
In the U.S. the taxpayer traditionally didn't cover the losses, private funds were raised to cover the losses. So the local and federal taxpayers didn't have to cover the costs. A good solution to an unnecessary problem, to be honest, it should be done like that worldwide. Of course games that don't lose so much money would be better but thats not going to happen either. Why should the taxpayer be on the hook for this too?
On a side-note. U.S. Olympic teams are still funded privately. Most countries fund their teams publicly, in fact, I think only the U.S. doesn't offer public money. That's why some countries don't send very many athletes, the public money can be quite limited. How much longer the U.S. can hold out with private money, I don't know. I can see B.O. wanting the public money for this too.
Daley signed the standard contract, he wouldn't hold out for a amended contract that didn't require public money. A bad move, the taxpayer could really get soaked. Chicago taxes have been flying out of control lately so the taxpayer sure doesn't need this nonsense too.
Just because the rest of the world wants to run the games stupidly doesn't mean we need to go along with it. I haven't been real crazy about having the games and this only makes that worse. Of course it will put the politics of Chicago on full view to the world even more then the election of B.O. Thats not so good either.
Hoping for Real Change!
The Obama Clock:
Countdown To When America Could Regain Real Leadership! Congress
2010! President 2012! Will America Step Up and Do It Right This Time?
Check out my other blog
Americans Against Government Motors