Chicago out of the running for the Olympics

[ragswl4]

Just out on the news, Chicago and Tokyo eliminated from the 2016 Olympics.

[headhunter636]

That sure could have helped the economy there, that is too bad.

[Kristofor]

Yeah, but they were going to degrade our new college football stadium (400+ miles away from Chicago) with <gasp> Soccer. You know what those people are like

[headhunter636]

Yeah, but they were going to degrade our new college football stadium (400+ miles away from Chicago) with <gasp> Soccer. You know what those people are like

I spent 3 years in Germany, I know exactly how those soccer people are. Perhaps you all dodged a bullett.

[Ed62]

Perhaps you all dodged a bullett.

That could be true. If I remember correctly, Atlanta lost money when they hosted the olympics.

Ed

[BobSch]

That could be true. If I remember correctly, Atlanta lost money when they hosted the olympics.

Ed

Listening to the radio last night. The story was about how most cities don't gain anything from hosting the games except a slight increase in manufacturing type businesses. Not enough tourist dollars to break even.

Besides, who want's to make Chicago construction crooks any richer?

[cgallery]

The story was about how most cities don't gain anything from hosting the games except a slight increase in manufacturing type businesses.

Agreed. And the demands of the OC seem to be getting more and more outrageous (build BIGGER stadiums, all NEW stadiums, etc.).

Good grief, one more perspective lost.

[Wood_workur]

Listening to the radio last night. The story was about how most cities don't gain anything from hosting the games except a slight increase in manufacturing type businesses. Not enough tourist dollars to break even.

Besides, who want's to make Chicago construction crooks any richer?

I agree. As cool as it would have been to have the Olympics there, Beijing is still in debt from the 2008 olympics, and the US really doesn't need that burden.

[Norm in Fujino]

I was kind of hoping for Tokyo, just so I could make a million selling soft drinks along the route of the marathon, but I guess my easy path to riches isn't to be.

[jussi]

I heard something on the radio about a poll taken and something like half of the residents said they didn't want the olympics in their city.

[BobSch]

I heard something on the radio about a poll taken and something like half of the residents said they didn't want the olympics in their city.

Maybe, just maybe some sanity might creep into the bigger/better mindset of Olympic committees.

But I'm not putting any money on it. Good luck, Rio.

[sweensdv]

I'm glad Chicago lost out. There was talk that some of the bicycle events might be run here in Wisconsin. I'm sure that somehow that would have cost me some money in higher taxes if that were to happen. The Olympics used to mean good honest amateur competition........ not so much anymore.

[mpc]

To add what others have said about most cities hosting the Olympics loosing money... I too remember reading that years ago. Most hope the publicity and refurbishment given to the areas will last beyond the Olympics to revitalize the whole area. Instead they end up deep in debt. At the time of the article I read, only the Los Angeles Olympics had managed to stay out of debt because so many facilities already existed in or around the city - and few needed upgrading. That was actually part of LA's proposal - showing they could pull off the hosting job without spending oodles of cash. Since the LA Olympics though there has been a significant push by nearly every host city/nation to hear the coveted "Best Olympics Ever" at the closing ceremony so each host city/nation spends more and more trying to out-lavish and out-spectacularize (you know what I mean!) prior hosts. Fancy ceremonies are one (expensive) thing but trying to build all-new mega-fancy facilities is an order of magnitude larger expense. And then the maintenance/upkeep of those facilities is often more than whatever "long term" usage of the facility can generate.

mpc

[Mrs. Wallnut]

I was kind of hoping for Tokyo, just so I could make a million selling soft drinks along the route of the marathon, but I guess my easy path to riches isn't to be.

LMAO.....Nice idea. I am sure I would have thought of something like that.

[TB Roye]

I also heard that a big chunk of money goes to the US Olympic Committee right off the top of the sponsorship money. It doesn't go the locals or the athletes, where as other national committies get very little. I will have see if I can find that article.

Tom