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Around Town
I Fight Dragon$
The Chicago 2016 Olympic "applicant file" is now available to the public and it's gosh-darn gorgeous. It's like getting your eyeballs massaged by angel feathers--visually, it's fabulous. Content-wise...well... what are you, new here? A few highlights:
++ The bidding process alone is budgeted at $49.3 million
++ Forecast revenues from the "domestic marketing program" are $2.5 billion
++ 81 percent of the venues—22 of 27—are existing or temporary.
++ "Athletes, teams, the IOC, NOC and IF executives, broadcasters, sponsors and media will travel to and from venues and clusters in dedicated Olympic lanes"
++ "Existing transport infrastructure does not require permanent works to host the Olympic Games"
++ About 79 percent of polled Chicagoans are in favor of having the Olympics here
The 2016 games would be from July 22–August 7.
After the jump, a map from the proposal and more on the plans for permanent infrastructure.
The five new [permanent] venues will leave a powerful and sustainable sports legacy, and all of these facilities will be accessible to athletes with disabilities. The Lakefront Rowing Course creates a signature venue to showcase rowing, canoeing and kayaking. Post-Games, it will be converted to include an expanded public recreational boating marina, capable of reverting to a competition venue should Chicago host future international events. The new, state-of-the-art Olympic Aquatics Center at Douglas Park, one of the plan’s signature venues, will become a regional and national competition center and provide the city’s minority communities with increased access to swimming facilities. The Olympic Slalom Course at Lincoln Park will offer city residents the opportunity to engage in kayaking in a convenient, urban setting.Chicago’s Olympic Stadium represents a unique opportunity for the Olympic Movement. At the time of the Games, it will be a dramatic purpose-built athletics stadium that meets or exceeds the ideal standards of the IAAF and key Olympic and Paralympic constituencies. Post-Games, the scaled-down reconfigured stadium will be the centerpiece for the revitalization of Washington Park and Chicago’s South Side. The accessible, community-based venue will be used for sports, concerts and other civic events and can be expanded to host major international athletics events. The sustainable, cost-saving approach of the stadium design could be a blueprint for future host cities.
The list of venues and facilities is here.
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I find it odd that they found 79% in favor of hosting the Olympics simply because I can hardly believe the group of people I know can ALL fall in the 21% that aren't in favor...
Seriously. I would love to meet someone who tells me, "Yes, I'm psyched that Chicago wants to host the Olympics -- and here's why!"
Man, I aint saying nothing.Yea sure. See yall on the el platforms and bus stops.
Man, I aint saying nothing.Yea sure. See yall on the el platforms and bus stops.
I would be excited about it. Sure, there would be problems, but it would be a great time.
Going after the Olympics is like dangling a ball of yarn in front of a cat.
Maybe enough citizens will be distracted enough to ignore the city's deep dysfunction. It has worked well in the past in Chicago and elsewhere.
Yes, I know other candidate cities, especially Rio, have big or even bigger problems, but that is no excuse for us.
We are so stupid, and we have no legitimate political power in this city.
I love the Olympics and here's why:
It is good for morale and promotes patriotism without war or violence.
But it does NOTHING to promote the economy of the host. Find me a city that has come out ahead. Better yet, find me more than one.
The Olympics are great to watch, but to actually be hosting? I just feel like they cause more problems than they're worth.
The Olympics in Chicago? Think on this, you're giving 2 BILLION dollars to one of the most corrupt, racist and bloated city governments in the country with oversight provided by the IOC another resoundingly corrupt institution.
Yep, nothing to worry about there.
As much as I love this city, I don't think it's needs are best served by chasing some bit of glory. Give us reliable public transportation and a transparent government rather than shiny baubles.
Course, I also want a pony...
One more highlight to put in the proposal: seniors ride free on the CTA!!!!!!!!!!!
The page farthest to the right forgot to boast:
One bankrupt, unreliable mass transit system!
"Now what?" to all the people hoping the Olympics would be the savior of the CTA.
Can't we find other ways of promoting patriotism, Spav?
Like, for instance, kicking more ass in science and engineering instead of falling back, as is happening?
Nah, I guess the Olympics are just easier.
Yes, I'm psyched about the olympics--and here's why:
A profitable olympics is not unheard of. The 1984 olympics--which I could argue Chicago is very comparible to in terms of already existing infrastructure--was profitable. Since 1984, the cities that have hosted the olympics have undertaken HUGE infrastructure expenditures just to be able to host the games, something the Chicago planners feel is largely unnecessary (rightly or wrongly depends to be seen). Chicago has acknowledged the infrastructure expenditure problem by focusing on existing or temporary venues--trying to avoid the "white elephant" situation, as they put it.
The olympics WILL be profitable for Chicago's reputation. While Atlanta may not have made a fortune on the Olympics themselves, or even broke even, it DID unarguably raise the profile of the city and lead directly to the rebirth of the downtown area. Atlanta may have experienced some of this without the games, but i doubt they hurt. My parents lived in Atlanta pre and post olympics. I can't even begin to explain how different that city is since the 1996 games.
Plus, I have always been an olympics junky and would give my left arm to live in a city hosting them where I could just ride my bike or take the el to an event.
Let's just kick ass in having uninsured people. 50 million! In your face Europe! USA USA!
Ad: I am sure the Olympics will boost Chicago's global rep, and perhaps even lead to more international economic connections. Certainly happened in that general way with Barcelona.
But, at what cost do we purse this path to glory, as some would have it? How much time and energy do we spend on this, and how much must fulltime Chicagoans give up as we chase those rings?
That is question I have, and the reason I am skeptical about the overall benefits of the Olympics in Chicago. Based on the numbers I have seen, the experiences of other cities, and my knowledge about how this city works, I think the Olympics will provide less benefit to Chicago than other improvements, including but not limited to transit.
(By the way, an article about the sorry state of transit in Chicago recently appeared in The Economist, meaning travellers in every major airport in the world had a chance to read about this black spot.)
Why do people act like it is a choice between spending $900 million on the olympics or spending $900 million on improving society in general. I believe very, very strongly in supporting mass transit, creating a universal health care plan that enusres everyone gets treatment, and improving access to quality education. Guess what folks, not a dime of that $900 million would go to any of those things if the olympics didn't come to Chicago. Politics are politics.
Ad: You are probably right about the $900 million, and that's a sad comment about the priorities of our leaders. Then again, $900 million spent one way is $900 million not spent in other ways.
YET, the time required to chase this thing--time not only from politicians, but businessmen and other civic leaders--is time not spent on the transit issue, or public education, or other things. People do not have limitless time nor political capital, and the Olympic chase will consume vast amounts of this, as well as media attention at the expense of other issues.
You say politics are politics. That is painfully true.
I want the olympics but I also want a fixed cta, a non-corrupt CPD, and a crony free City Hall.
I want my cake and I want to eat it in a pipe dream.
$2 billion? That's pocket change. Who do I make the check out to? Or would Daley prefer cash? And can the 2016 Olympics be named after me?
I have an event. Try and take a bus and train together and arrive at your destination in less than one hour. A big gold medal to the person acheiving it! No seniors....
This can shore up our financial problems, as people will try over and over again and keep failing. Just like that golf course in St. Andrews where people sneak out to try and par the road hole, only we'll be charging $1.75 for it!
I honestly don't know ONE SINGLE PERSON who wants the Olympics here. Where are these 79 percenters living? I'm guessing Naperville. Or maybe Rockford.
ophmarketing -- I'm so glad it's not just me. I was worried I had significantly fewer acquaintances than others and that's perhaps why everyone I know falls in that 21%.
No one I know -- not even my grandma in Schaumburg -- wants the Olympics here.
Fair points, all, for the positives. I don't disagree that there are positives. I just disagree that they outweigh the negatives.
I also find it frustrating that the citizens have no say in all of this. I can voice my opinion on honorably discharged vets getting health care but can't be heard when the city is spending my money on temporary fixes?
... I swear, this is the last comment I'll make on this. Promise.
The part I love best about this is how Daley railroaded the renovation of Soldier Field through, then a year or so later decided he wanted to pursue the Olympics. Gee, what would be helpful for that? I know! An 80 to 85 thousand seat stadium! What an idea! I say put the Summer Olympics in Athens every 4 years so all those venues they built won't just sit deserted.
Also, they're sending soccer preliminaries to Minneapolis but not using Toyota Park? What the hell?