2016 Olympics - Awarded to Rio de Janeiro

[bkochmc]

Originally Posted by chance

Doh...I guess I should of checked the date on the second link I posted. Didn't realize it was from 2006.

I'm skimming through the Applicant File right now and Olympic Stadium being "temporary" is partially correct. The footprint (track, infield, some stands) would be permanent but much of the stands would be removed/renovated so it would become a multi-purpose facility. From p.25 of the AF:

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.

[ORD_Buckeye]

I do have a couple of thoughts on Chicago's Olympic bid.

A lot of people who I know are supporting the Olympic bid precisely because they feel it's the only way to ever get the CTA fundamentally upgraded. I don't believe the CTA is as bad as people want to make it out to be, as it's still the second most extensive subway/L system in the country. That being said, it's decades behind those possessed by most European cities. Many feel the Olympics are the only way to break the gridlock in the state legislature and come up with the combination of public and private funding to bring the system into the 21st century, which to my thinking would include a true dedicated O'Hare Express line to the loop similar to London's Heathrow Express.

Second, this is still Chicago. If Chicago gets the Olympics expect Olympian levels of graft, corruption and payrolling to be involved in every aspect of their planning, construction and execution. We ain't exactly known as a bastion of clean government.

I'll send out a Batman beacon signal for ORD Buckeye: Bowling Green, Miami, and Ohio U. are by far better universities than Ohio State.

I also have a couple of thoughts on failing to add the "of Ohio" after Fredo.

[redbenn]

Tokyo fears Barack Obama's election gives Chicago edge for 2016 - SI.com - Olympics

Japanese Olympic officials fear the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president could make his home city of Chicago the favorite to host the 2016 Olympic Games and harm Tokyo's bid. Tokyo, Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro are the four cities in the running to host the 2016 Games.
"I wonder how IOC members will react when Mr. Obama appears in a presentation for Chicago," Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda told Japanese media Wednesday.
The IOC will name the 2016 host at its general assembly in October next year.
"Mr. Obama is popular and good at speeches, so things could get tough for Japan," said senior JOC board member Tomiaki Fukuda.

[bkochmc]

Originally Posted by redbenn

Tokyo fears Barack Obama's election gives Chicago edge for 2016 - SI.com - Olympics

Tokyo doesn't have much of a chance anyways since '08 was in Beijing. '16 is either going to Chicago or Rio.

[ORD_Buckeye]

[bkochmc]

Picture this: Chicago 2016 shows off city to IOC - USATODAY.com

Picture this: Chicago 2016 shows off city to IOC

By Nam Y. Huh, AP Soldier Field, complete with the Chicago 2016 logo, was part of the tour an IOC team took part in on Sunday.

By Vicki Michaelis, USA TODAY

CHICAGO - The anticipated budget for making a Chicago 2016 Summer Olympics a reality is about $5 billion, but behind all the zeroes bid officials believe they have a plan fit for lean economic times.

On Sunday, they gave an International Olympic Committee team in town to evaluate their bid the visuals. They bused the evaluators from Grant Park to Washington Park, from Soldier Field to the United Center. At Washington Park, volunteers braved cold wind and sleet to form the footprint of the proposed Olympic stadium.

Evaluators heard videotaped messages from President Obama on Saturday and from Michael Jordan on Sunday. Obama called Chicago "the perfect host city." Jordan said, "As someone who 25 years ago fell in love with the city of Chicago, I thank you for your consideration of our wonderful city."

Along the route of Sunday's venue tour, bid officials undoubtedly repeated words, such as "temporary," that until recent years were foreign to the Olympic lingo. (The media is not given access to discussions between bid officials and the IOC team.)

"So much of our plan is really designed for these times," said Doug Arnot, director of venues and Games operations for Chicago 2016. "The fact that we have so little in the way of permanent construction we thought was quite favorable."

Continued...

[bkochmc]

Less than 2 months until the bid takes place on October 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark!

Chicago 2016 Hails Success of USOC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Chicago 2016 Hails Success of USOC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Approximately $5 million raised for Chicago?s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games as nearly 3,600 attend sold-out event at McCormick Place

CHICAGO (August 12, 2009)?The U.S. Olympic Committee?s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony proved a success in Chicago?s effort to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, raising approximately $5 million for Chicago 2016 and its legacy organization in its "Sprint Through the Finish" campaign.

Nearly 3,600 people attended the sold-out dinner and ceremony at McCormick Place on Wednesday night, filling the banquet hall. Hundreds of prospective ticket purchasers had to be turned away. It was the largest fund-raising event, in terms of attendance, in Chicago 2016?s three-year quest for the Games.

"The Hall of Fame ceremony was a tremendous success," said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. "I was gratified by the huge turnout and the continuing display of public support for our bid. The depth of that support has permitted our campaign to be financed entirely by private donations."

Chicago 2016 has now exceeded its fund-raising goals.


Cont...

[ScriptOhio]

I know the winning city is the one that pays out the biggest/best bribes to the olympic committee members. However, I have to like Rio's chances since no South American city has ever hosted the summer games.



Summer Olympics - Host Cities

Olympic Host CityYear
Games Held
London2012
Beijing2008
Athens2004
Sydney2000
Atlanta1996
Barcelona1992
Seoul1988
Los Angeles1984
Moscow1980
Montreal1976
Munich1972
Mexico City1968
Tokyo1964
Rome1960
Melbourne1956
Helsinki1952
London1948
Berlin1936
Los Angeles1932
Amsterdam1928
Paris1924
Antwerp1920
Stockholm1912
London1908
St Louis1904
Paris1900
Athens1896

[bkochmc]

Originally Posted by ScriptOhio

I know the winning city is the one that pays out the biggest/best bribes to the olympic committee members. However, I have to like Rio's chances since no South American city has ever hosted the summer games.

I've said all along it will be either Chicago or Rio with my biased guess being Chicago... Chicago already has a lot of infrastructure set up and plans on using many existing facilities... something the IOC likes, especially after Beijing's spending spree.

[sparcboxbuck]

Originally Posted by bkochmc

I've said all along it will be either Chicago or Rio with my biased guess being Chicago...

You kiss your mother with that mouth? I, for one, pray for Rio...

[Oh8ch]

I can't conceive of how Chicago can provide adequate security without taking the Peking approach and sending the entire populace to Rockford for the duration.

The infrastructure is there, but it is so tightly integrated with where people work and live that you can't have it all going on simultaneously. Nor can you move across the city without using the same transportation system that will service these venues. Just a nightmare IMO.

[THEWOOD]

I am praying Rio gets the nod. If Chicago does end up with the 2016 Summer Olympics, you will not see me here. I will be renting out my condo and far far away.

[sparcboxbuck]

Originally Posted by THEWOOD

I am praying Rio gets the nod. If Chicago does end up with the 2016 Summer Olympics, you will not see me here. I will be renting out my condo and far far away.

It seems like the only ones who want the Olympics to be in Chicago are the Mayor's office and the rest of "The Chicago Way." That's our version of The United Way.

I'm with you... I have no interest in the Olympics coming here.

Good Luck Rio! Let's go Rio!

[ORD_Buckeye]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

I can't conceive of how Chicago can provide adequate security without taking the Peking approach and sending the entire populace to Rockford for the duration.

Have you ever been to Rio? As far as crime goes, Rio makes Chicago look like frickin' Mayberry RFD.

[ORD_Buckeye]

Originally Posted by sparcboxbuck

It seems like the only ones who want the Olympics to be in Chicago are the Mayor's office and the rest of "Da Chicaaago Way."

fify