THE BIG STORY: CHICAGO LOSES OLYMPIC BID
The First Family has spent some time and money heading to Copenhagen to support Chicago as the host city for the 2016 Olympics. Even TV superstar Oprah Winfrey traveled overseas to show her support. Still, despite the prescence of President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, CNN reports that Chicago has lost its Olympic bid.
So does this mean Pres. Obama has lost his star-power? Or do you think Chicago may simply not have been the best city to host the games?
I think with the fact that we just hosted the Olympics in Atlanta the Olympic committee decided to give it to apart of the world that has not had the same opportunity.
This maybe a blessing because it cost a whole lot of money to host an Olympics. The financial state of the country especially in the Mid-west, that may not be money well spent. These events lose a ton money. And we have enough money problems as it is.
I don’t think this hurt Obama. His biggest problem are domestic where is sorely needs some wins.
IOC not impressed by so-called star power.
Wasted million of dollars to lobby Chicago Olympics. Here we go again another government waste. Bush wasted taxpayers money on wars. Obama continues the waste, a less than 24 hours “stop over,” costing the taxpayers millions.
I guess Oprah pay for the trip.
This is real change!!!!
I don’t see this as a catastrophic loss. This frees him up to concentrate on other important matters. Chicago has some problems to fix before having a big event like that in their city. I pray that all works out and get these kids focused on what they need to focus on. Why isn’t someone opening a ‘real’ boot camp and throwing these violent kids up in it and making them work hard and change? That is completely rhetorical. I just don’t see prison as a positive alternative to changing these kids. They need positive and tough love alternatives.
Boot camp would be a great move. But, then the ACLU, Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson will come marching on the Chicago streets.
One black child who could be the next president, life value as nothing to some other black “jackasses.”
Shameful.
Too much Black Power at one time! The world couldn’t handle it. Think about it, 3 of the most powerful people in this country are Black and they went, in force, to appeal to the IOC. I think there are still people in this world, even though Obama is popular in many places, still have an issue with him being the President. Chicago would have been great. Great city, great people, great food. Ideal for something like The Olympics. I think it was a snub to America and the somehow tell us that we might be “running” things here in the U.S., but not worldwide. There are many people of color in Rio, but Rio is largely still run by non-Black officials.
For starters,number 1 the year 2016 is not here.Number 2 I don’t think anybody would be able to say that the world would still be here or standing in one circle,as people we can’t see into the year 2016.
HERE WE GO PLAYING THE RACE CARD!!!
I think Rio was the best choice. This is a chance for a new place to have opportunity to host the Olympics. U.S has had two opportunities. Besides doesn’t Chicago need to think about cleaning up a little, everyone has crime true but I sure it hasn’t gone unnoticed the increase of attacks on teenage children.
The President has not lost his star power. It was just South America’s turn. I wasn’t surprised Chicago was eliminated so quickly given the recent scandals (Blago)and high-profile crimes (Hudson family/Derrion Albert). I’m disappointed for the President, Chicago, America. But happy for Rio, the site of 2 of my favorite films – Black Orpheus and City of God! It will be fascinating to see how the city has evolved since those depictions.
Peace!
With all do respect, I am actually glad it isn’t taking place in Chicago. I am really relieved of the decision and I don’t even live in Chicago.
Had Obama NOT tried for the Olympics, people would have been complaining that he hadn’t done enough, used his “star-power” enough to help the Illinois and Chicago economies. He’s going to catch it whatever he does.
Glad that he went for it, disappointed that it didn’t work out. But, really, what does it change? Nothing. No harm, no foul. No one is going to have everything they want fall 100% their way, all the time.
AP
I’m glad he at least tried. It would have been great boon to the city’s econony. I’m sure the negative press didn’t help. But now the city knows what it needs to get in order before inviting company over. There’ll be another chance.
People who insist that Los Angeles and Atlanta lost money from hosting the Olympics are misinformed.
According to the sources listed below, Atlanta saw a profit of $10 million from hosting the 1996 Olympic Games. This figure doesn’t include the monies received by merchants and vendors that benefited from the event. Also not included in the figure is the number of jobs created and the resulting influx of funds into the city and state coffers. Atlanta’s $1.7 billion private-funded investment in hosting the games helped revitalize its sluggish downtown and poured $5 billion into the metropolitan area’s economy during the next decade, according to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
Additionally, Los Angeles saw great return on the investment made for the 1984 Games. Those Games saw a profit of $232.5 million, and are the most profitable Olympics in history. “An unprecedented athletic, aesthetic, and financial triumph, including a whopping $232.5 million surplus. Some 60 percent of those funds went to the USOC and the national governing sports bodies – money that has financed training programs in every Olympic sport.
The remainder of the surplus has been used to support youth
sports in Southern California through the private, non-profit LA84
Foundation (formerly known as the Amateur Athletic Foundation
of Los Angeles). Since its formation in 1985, the Foundation has
spent more than $164 million in grants, scholarships and program-
ming throughout Southern California. The LA84 Foundation also
operates the nation’s premier sports library.”
http://www.la84foundation.org/20thAnniversary.pdf (1984 Los Angeles Games)
http://www.allbusiness.com/sports-recreation/amateur-sports-olympics-summer/13002317-1.html
(1996 Atlanta Games)
I don’t think this affects Barack politically at all. Those Olympic Committees do what they want to do anyway.
Besides, as big as this way, President Obama has bigger fish to fry. And, as Rance said, Chicago needs to clean its act up before having any big event like that in its city.
This part,I have to speak my my mind on,this comment right here.This person said that no one gets to have everything they want all the time in alot of ways this is true,1000 percent of the world is full of evil people and this a prime example.alot of evil people get their way,which is so Damn Pathetic,plus other people support,vote, jump to other evil people sides,stick up for other evil people which is sickning but this is how the world operates,it didn’t just start now.In fact alot of evil people had a lot to do with where the 2016 Olympic games are going to be held at before 2016 gets here.As always alot of decisions do come from alot of evil,nogood people.President Barack is a good person,AL.Sharpton is a good guy,These two Angels are still fighting against all of the rest of the evil people in this world.President Barack has done a great job as President.Hell the nerve of alot of Evil,Dum,JackAsses have to say Stupid things about the great President Barack.President Barack is another gift from God,just like the great Michael Jackson was. Chaz is a great women in fact I know a very small group of good people that does good things and still it don’t pay off in this Selfish World. Alot of times the ones that are good hardly never get their way on anything.Another example alot of evil people alot of times win the Lottery.
I’m glad that alot of evil people are not apart of me and not in my life,I am super glad about this cause I only support the good,I never supported evil people especially when I detect a person that turns out to be evil.Another thing Judgement day is coming for all the evil people and you evil people,ya’ll are really Scared as Hell because ya’ll ain’t going to know what to do when it gets here,I’m just speaking my mind and I’m just speaking in general.
Chaz:
Whatever you are on, you need help.
Convoluted
MeOnly,
No more convoluted than your previous statement about the Olympics:
“On the issue of the President lobby for the Olympics in 2016:
Los Angeles and Atlanta hosted the Olympics. Today, those two cities are booming economically. Being sarcastic?”
Seems that there’s enough convolution to go around.
AP
to meonly,you are another Weirdo also you are another evil Monster,Hell you not even a human being for starters.Who in the Hell are you to say somebody needs some help,Hell you ain’t the one to talk,you are not no Damn judge of me.meonly you need to go to Hell.
AP:
Apparently you do not have a clue what the word convoluted means. If you do, you would not have selected the following statement as such.
“Los Angeles and Atlanta hosted the Olympics. Today, those two cities are booming economically. Being sarcastic?”
And as for Chaz: You have just confirmed my point. You need help seriously.
MeOnly,
Did I misread your post in thinking that you’re being sarcastic when you wrote that Atlanta and Los Angeles have a booming economy because of their respective hosting of the Olympics? Clarify what you were attempting to say, please.
If I did misinterpret what you meant, then I apologize for it. As I have said before, much is lost in this medium. For example, your opening line above could be read as inappropriately pissy, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt because, if for no other reason, it’s ludicrous to think I don’t know the meaning of “convoluted.” hahaha
No harm, no foul.
AP
I was being sarcastic. Atlanta and Los Angeles, two cities that hosted the Summer Olympics are NOT booming economically today. In fact California is so broke that it had to pay it bills in recent time by IOUs.
MeOnly,
Correct that neither city (along with most other cities in the US…and globally) are not doing well financially. It’s called the Recession, and NOTHING to do with the fact that either city hosted the Olympics. Again, the current financial state of each city has NOTHING to do with the fact that they hosted the Olympics. If fact, if you read my post above, I’ve provided proof that each city did financially benefit from the Games.
So, again, what’s your point? Please connect the dots between LA and Atlanta hosting the Olympics (1984 and 1996, respectively) and their CURRENT financial situations.
Thanks,
AP
LA and Atlanta were doing bad economically before the recession. I am not that naive to think that there are no economic benefits from hosting the games. The economic benefits are short-lived.
Prove your point that the boom in the construction industry, hotel accommodation, retail sales, employment opportunities etc before and immediately after the games remain. That’s the point I was making. Every cities across the globe suffer the same fate. In fact, the Summer Olympics fare better than the Winter Olympics.
Estimated cost for the Chicago Games was $5B. The Athens Games was estimated to cost $2.4B, ending up costing $9B, The recent game in Bejiing had an estimated cost of $40B.
Again the point I was making is: Economic benefits from Olympics Games are a short-lived and there are no guarantee that the hosting city would come out ahead.
Well, MeOnly, again, if you read my posts and their corresponding links, you will see that both cities prospered long-term. Reading carefully, you will see that the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce said that the city saw $5 billion into its coffers over the next decade.
“Atlanta’s $1.7 billion private-funded investment in hosting the games helped revitalize its sluggish downtown and poured $5 billion into the metropolitan area’s economy during the next decade, according to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.”
Los Angeles had $235 million profit from the Games…again, not counting the “residual” income to local business, etc.
To use the city’s current economic state as a reason why any other US city shouldn’t expect to profit from hosting the Games is nonsensical.
Your point that the two cities being discussed, ATL and LA, did not have long-term economic gains is proved FALSE by the information given by the IOC and each city’s respective Chamber of Commerce. Their info, should you chose to believe it, “proves my point.” Hopefully, you can grasp that now.
That other countries hosting of the Games led them to lose money is irrelevant to the discussion of how Chicago would fare from hosting them.
Hope none of this is too ‘convoluted’ for you…
AP
PS. If you’re looking for “guarantees” in life, you are setting yourself up for continuing disappointment…
Thanks AP. This is too convoluted for me, so I’ll have to move on. I guess my six years of college did not prepare me for such intense reasoning.
Another note,Ialways notice when I tell the truth about something and evil person comes along out of nowhere alot of times to say something about me when I state some true factsabout some things in life that alot of times, evil people don’t want to hear it and they don’t want to read sbout it,and they don’t want to face up to reality,They don’t want to see the true facts alot of times cause evil people can’t never handle the truth when it surfaces and especially when the truth shows up on computers,Hell all evil people in this world the one’s that are still here starting Stupid Crap should All be Zap Away Somehow,I wish that this could happen for real.
(Fr. Pres. Jimmy Carter’s) words have been proven to be true. There was (no) unjust criticism of (George W. Bush/2008) for doing the same thing that (President Barack Obama/2009) did. [Pitch for the "2016 Olympics" to be hosted by the city of Chicago.] This is the good that came from (Chicago) not getting to host the “2016 Olympics”.
MeOnly,
As I said: no harm, no foul. We all make mistakes.
AP
No, President Obama has not lost his star power. However, now that chicago is not going to have the Olympics here, maybe we can focus on regaining some of the neighbors and families that have been missed placed by the promise of the 2016 games. Much land and much property has been cleared and emptied to make way for the games, I think the question is now is what is Mayor Daley’s Plan B for Chicago
TVOne,
Is it possible that the President has done nothing of note in the six days that have passed since you posted this entry?
AP