Sometimes, good fortune comes in the form of rejection. It may not seem so good at the time, but in the long run it proves to be just what the doctor ordered.

So it is with Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics.

Although it was a feel good idea, and seemed like a good idea on the surface, there are a number of serious reasons why the United States in general, and Chicago in specific, had no real business contending for the Olympics in 2016:

1. The U.S. unemployment rate is 9.8%, and rising.Yes, it could be argued that a Chicago Olympics would have created jobs, and that would be true. But, the real question is: How many jobs? And the answer to that, as it turns out, is: Darn few. Because most of the venues–by the city’s own admission–already exist. There would be little need for new construction. No construction = No jobs.
2. The United States is engaged in higher priority and longer term initiatives which are just a tad more important than doped up sprinters and anorexic, underage gymnasts. Things like:
   • A war in Afghanistan.
   • A failed war in Iraq.
   • A rather serious problem with Iran as regards the small matter of enriched uranium.
   • A debt load which would give the Almighty Himself a heart attack.
   • A terminal dependence on an ever dwindling and inadequate supply of oil.
   • An infrastructure that is crumbling at an accelerating rate.
   • Hunger in America.
   • Poverty in America.
   • Health Care
   • Permanent loss of jobs to other countries.
3. The cost to the taxpayers. The estimated cost of the Chicago Olympics was $4.8 billion. Enough to cause a sane person to ask what the hell the City was thinking in the first place. The pattern over the last few Olympics has been for costs to skyrocket once the ball gets rolling. In 2005, London estimated the cost for the 2012 Olympics at $400 million. That cost now is about $1.5 billion. Using that same math, Chicago could easily be on the hook for nearly $20 billion by 2016. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Chicago doesn’t–and won’t–have that kind of money.
4. If the Olympics ever were useful, they long ago managed to outlive their usefulness. This is not the same world as it was pre-Munich. The notion of global brotherhood and unity is not much more than the butt of barroom jokes. Added to that, the Olympic movement has become a victim of the IOC’s own arrogant ineptness; rotting away from the inside out from doping scandals, judging scandals, politics, heavy handed rulings, blatant and unfair support for some nations and athletes at the expense of others, and more.

So, here’s the deal: Chicago didn’t get the Olympics, and in my view it was a very good thing. Because the United States and its cities have more important things to do with their time and money than to chase a pipe dream called the Olympics. And because I don’t want the government reaching into my wallet to pay for what amounts to a multi-billion dollar boondoggle.

It’s a good thing because much of the world is tired of hearing about how wonderful the Olympics are while, at the same time, reading about rampant corruption, politics, drug use, and all the other ugly things the Olympics have actually come to symbolize.

And one other thing, and this is just my personal opinion: No one, and I mean NO ONE, beats a world class field of sprinters in the 100 meter dash by 8 to 10 meters without being on some type of juice.

No one.

© 2009, Mac Williams. All rights reserved.

• No Related Post

• By m, October 3, 2009 @ 18:29

  wow nice commentary!

Other Links to this Post