Posted by
Rich from NW Indiana on Friday, October 02, 2009 5:32:48 PM
I knew for a while that Chicago would likely lose the 2016 Olympics bid to Rio. Today they finally did. The Olympics games have never been in South America. I think that was the biggest thing Rio had over Chicago, since the Olympics have been in the U.S. many times already. The pickers of the location are of the same type as Obama (liberal and elite) and his ilk, so a choice like Rio is a pretty sure thing and so politically correct. Though the "star" power of Obama and his wife over those folks did make it more likely Chicago had a chance of changing that. But it wasn't enough. The first round cut was a surprise though.
When they started talking about Chicago biding for the Olympics, I thought, that could be cool. But as time went on, I cooled to the idea of it. At the end I opposed it more then anything.
It was a top down type of planning. Never good. Recent polls showed that at the end more Chicagoans opposed having the Olympics here then those that did. The boosters were accused of being heavy handed in how the bid went and how the city would hold the games if it was won.
Like how Chicago taxpayers would be on the hook for cost overruns and losses. You know that would happen. Every city loses money on the games. Montreal held the games in 1976 and only paid off its losses in 2006! Thirty years is a long time to be paying for something that does even last two weeks! When Mayor Daley agreed to "cover" the costs I knew the opposition had powerful charge to not hold the games in Chicago. The U.S. federal government does not cover cost overruns for Olympic games, unlike most if not all other governments of the world. That should never change but it does hurt bids from the U.S. (the feds also don't pay for athletes, private money is used for our teams). This is the biggest reason Chicago lost. They lost the support of the majority of resident of the Chicago area.
The handing of the former Michael Reese Hospital site was a complete disaster too. The city wanted the site for the Olympic village so no effort was made to save the hospital. Now that will stand vacant for many years. Maybe now some of the buildings that would have been bulldozed for no good reason will now be saved for reuse someday. It could be a good place for a college or university campus or even a hospital again.
The south side Washington Park "temporary" stadium was a stupid idea from the the beginning. It showed how bad the Solder Field renovation was to anything other then football. No one noticed that few residents near the park wanted the Games in their park. Even though the city would finally put some money into that long neglected park. At least some work got done there to show to visitors, but I doubt we will be hearing much about any other improvements there soon.
We can go on about the corruption that would have resulted from the money flying around. Or the spotlight on some of the most corrupt politicians the U.S. has to offer. Or the huge costs increases that would hurt only the lower and middle classes. It would have been really bad. Even worse considering the serious recession we are in, with no light at the end of that tunnel.
Of course its not just Chicago when it comes to some of the bad things about the Olympics. Even Salt Lake City couldn't keep the corruption down and out of the news! The idea of the Olympics is even noble and is something we should be doing. However the games are in need of some reform. I don't see it happening anytime soon.
Such as:
Site selection: When nations like Communist China, the Soviet Union and Nazis Germany are picked to be sites for the Olympics we have a problem. I get the "we aren't here to judge governments" thing, but it is still wrong headed to pick places like that. Host sites should be limited to free nations.
Second part of site selection: Poor nations will never host the games. Never! Of course some will argue with me that Rio isn't a wealthy place, but it is far from being the poorest place as well. Why don't poor nations host? They cannot afford the huge costs that come with it. Building a stadium no one will use after the game is something that shouldn't be done even if you can "afford" it. Most of the venues built for the Athens games in 2004 are unused and rotting away today. They will be paying for them for a long time. The costs should be lowered so more places can host. The Olympics have never been to South America until Rio, and Africa has never hosted and has little chance of hosting anytime soon.
Economic benefits: Every city seems to over reach when it comes to glorifying the economic benefits that should come with hosting. Every booster hammers away on this every time. Only problem, it isn't true. There are some benefits like good publicity and the short term gains that come. But economic growth isn't one of them. I am so tired of hearing this every time. Why can't they let that one go! The games have to be seen on their own merits, not some pie in the sky thing that NEVER happens! Its the day after and on that worries me, and they don't plan for that. What happens is that prices increase until the games and crash after it's all over.
Government funding of games and teams: The U.S. stands alone by not funding teams with tax dollars. All other nations pay for their teams with tax payers money. Its become standard for the host nation to cover the losses that occur. That is something the U.S. government hasn't done and I hope never does. Reform cannot happen without the removal of money from taxpayers. Taxpayers should not be funding the games, I can't think of a good reason why anyone would want that. Wouldn't you think more teams could come if private money would replace public around the world?
Would I have liked having the games in Chicago? Yeah, I would have liked it. It would have been fun. Maybe some day Chicago can host the games. Hopefully in the future when Chicago could be in a better position to be host. It isn't today. Today's leadership cannot even do what it is charged with doing. Having the games coming would have made that far worse for the resident of Chicago and all of us that live around it. We need new leaders before Chicago can have the Olympic games. At least Chicago taxpayers are off the hook for this one!
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