Which American cities would you like to host the Olympic Games?

[marylander1940]

Which American cities would you like to host the Olympic Games?

 

I would suggest medium size cities that would like to finally appear in the world map.

 

Denver

 

Rustbelt cities: Columbus, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, etc

 

Minneapolis

[Kenny]

Any city looking to go bankrupt.

 

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/10-olympic-games-bankrupted-host-countries.htm

[Kevin Slater]

Anywhere but mine.

 

Kevin Slater

[mike carey]

The IOC is a criminal conspiracy, it controls candidate cities, except in 1984 when LA was the only contender. LA rather than the IOC called all the shots. I lived in Sydney in 2000 and the games were a magical time, but that doesn't mean any future host city will do well. In Sydney, almost all of the venues are still in use, unlike Athens.

[AdamSmith]

Boston exercised its legendary historical good sense when it withdrew its bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.

 

Opposition

Boston's bid for the 2024 Olympics attracted an engaged and vocal opposition. In December 2013, around the same time as the state's Feasibility Commission launched, the group No Boston Olympics was formed. No Boston Olympics emphasized the economic risk involved with signing a financial guarantee for the IOC, the corruption of the IOC, and the opportunity costs involved in hosting.[34] In November 2014, another group, No Boston 2024, emerged. No Boston 2024 focused on the social injustices inherent to the modern Olympic process, including displacement, militarization, widening inequality, and the diversion of public spending from basic needs. Although the groups differed in tactics, tone, and emphases, they frequently collaborated around the common goal of defeating the city's Olympic bid.[35] No Boston 2024 was able to shine light on the city's behind-the-scenes work on the bid through numerous public records requests.[36]

 

Former gubernatorial candidate Evan Falchuk, of the United Independent Party, was an early critic of the bid and launched a campaign for a ballot initiative barring public spending on the Olympics.[37]

 

Although support for the Olympic bid in the Boston area was at 55% to 33% in early post-selection polling, it fell significantly in subsequent months as residents learned more about what hosting the Olympics would entail and grew increasingly skeptical of Boston 2024's promises that no public funding would be used. In February, Boston area support had fallen to 44%, with 46% opposed. Starting in March until the bid's demise, opposition consistently polled over 50%.[38]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_bid_for_the_2024_Summer_Olympics

[marylander1940]

Anywhere but mine.

 

Kevin Slater

 

Don't worry NYC is just too big for that?

 

I would never suggest cities like:

 

NYC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Houston, or Atlanta (which already hosted them).

[BasketBaller]

Boston's not the only US city to decline. Denver was picked for the 76 winter games by the IOC, but withdrew for financial reasons.

[marylander1940]

The IOC is a criminal conspiracy, it controls candidate cities, except in 1984 when LA was the only contender. LA rather than the IOC called all the shots. I lived in Sydney in 2000 and the games were a magical time, but that doesn't mean any future host city will do well. In Sydney, almost all of the venues are still in use, unlike Athens.

 

You're raised a very important subject: what happens after with all the facilities?

 

Obviously it's very easy to find use for all the housing, Barcelona now has a new neighborhood and LA had the Olympic village turned into dormitories for the university. But can a city need or afford having a few large swimming pools, possibly but unless you have a lake sports like: rowing, canoe sprint, sailing might need a large place to be built specially for them or should be practiced far away from the village.

 

Many other facilities could have facilities that are just temporary.

 

 

I guess only Barcelona used the Olympics games to renew an entire area of the city and made sure there would be buyers for those homes after the games.

 

 

SOCHI, Russia (AP) — The ski jump sits shrouded in mist, its coat of snow undisturbed by any athletes hurtling down to take off into the air.

 

A few years ago, the jump bustled with activity at the Sochi Olympics. But it made unwanted history as well, becoming a symbol of how some of the plans for President Vladimir Putin's $51 billion Winter Games went terribly wrong.

 

The cost of the facility soared from $40 million to nearly $300 million — an overrun that caused the businessman involved to flee a corruption investigation.

 

Russia had vowed to pay for what became the most expensive Olympics of all time by getting super-rich private investors to take the cost from the state. Instead, as the first anniversary of the games approaches, at least two of those oligarchs are quietly dumping their toxic assets on the state — forcing taxpayers to pick up the bill.

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/oligarchs-unload-sochi-olympics-assets-recoup-investment-111512223--finance.html

 

 

http://www.trbimg.com/img-52f40e76/turbine/la-ol-sochi-olympics-kill-stray-dogs--20140206-001/600

 

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2014/pets/news/140217/sochi-dog-600.jpg

 

http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/201416/rs_560x415-140206122657-1024.sochi-olympics-toilet-bathroom-020614.jpg

[marylander1940]

Boston's not the only US city to decline. Denver was picked for the 76 winter games by the IOC, but withdrew for financial reasons.

 

I think Boston is just too crowded for the Olympics, not a big city but there's no room...

[+ WilliamM]

http://www.taz.de/picture/206888/948/Bosnien_Minenwarnung_dapd0135.jpg

 

Sarajevo Winter Olympics 1984

 

At least Bosnia has a good explanation, it did not start the war in the 1990s.

[Kenny]

The IOC is a criminal conspiracy, it controls candidate cities, except in 1984 when LA was the only contender. LA rather than the IOC called all the shots. I lived in Sydney in 2000 and the games were a magical time, but that doesn't mean any future host city will do well. In Sydney, almost all of the venues are still in use, unlike Athens.

The LA Olympics in '84, commonly called the budget Olympics, had no government funding -- fortunately. Corporate funding and television sales paid for everything. Lots of venues already existed, and while the Coliseum near downtown was the center, they were spread all over the vast city sprawl. It had something of the feel of childhood neighborhood pick-up games except with incredible athletes. Fears of traffic Armaggedon also disappeared when lots of people changed their daily driving routine, used the temporarily expanded bus schedules or even left town after renting out their abodes to tourists. It was great: empty freeways! And the accompanying performing arts festival, usually ignored at other Olympics, was an unvarnished avant-garde success.

[marylander1940]

The LA Olympics in '84, commonly called the budget Olympics, had no government funding -- fortunately. Corporate funding and television sales paid for everything. Lots of venues already existed, and while the Coliseum near downtown was the center, they were spread all over the vast city sprawl. It had something of the feel of childhood neighborhood pick-up games except with incredible athletes. Fears of traffic Armaggedon also disappeared when lots of people changed their daily driving routine, used the temporarily expanded bus schedules or even left town after renting out their abodes to tourists. It was great: empty freeways! And the accompanying performing arts festival, usually ignored at other Olympics, was an unvarnished avant-garde success.

 

Well it's California a state where things make sense and a "maker state" instead of a "taker state".

[Kenny]

Well it's California a state where things make sense and a "maker state" instead of a "taker state".

Yeah, and sometimes it galls me to realize that my taxes are subsidizing hideous bigots in loser Red states...until I remember that we are all Muricans and need to help each other out.

[marylander1940]

Yeah, and sometimes it galls me to realize that my taxes are subsidizing hideous bigots in loser Red states...until I remember that we are all Muricans and need to help each other out.

 

I have the same feeling, and they're not even grateful.

 

New York values? Hell yes and very proud of it!

 

[+ Topseed]

Elated that Rio got this year's Olympics rather than here in Chicago. Hope it never happens here.

[marylander1940]

Elated that Rio got this year's Olympics rather than here in Chicago. Hope it never happens here.

 

I agree with you! Chicago is just too big already. In your area I think Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Detroit, Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland and Indianapolis would be great choices as long as they follow de Los Ángeles en Barcelona style, and think what to do after the Olympics with all the installations.

[Becket]

It'll be interesting to see the bidding processes in the future. The blatant greed and corruption of the IOC (exceeded only by FIFA) is once again front page news. And we are also being shown the waste and destruction left in former host cities like Athens and Sochi. (In a month Rio will join them.) In the long term, one possible solution will be to have a ROTA of cities who already have the structures and public works in place. Yes that means that countries like Estonia or the Philippines might never get to host. But neither will they have to sell their souls.

[marylander1940]

It'll be interesting to see the bidding processes in the future. The blatant greed and corruption of the IOC (exceeded only by FIFA) is once again front page news. And we are also being shown the waste and destruction left in former host cities like Athens and Sochi. (In a month Rio will join them.) In the long term, one possible solution will be to have a ROTA of cities who already have the structures and public works in place. Yes that means that countries like Estonia or the Philippines might never get to host. But neither will they have to sell their souls.

 

 

Bozo are you back?

 

Wow, so negative....

 

Did the IOC invade Iraq looking for weapons of mass destruction they knew didn't exist?

 

Do some soccer teams fixed their balls (hard or soft) like the Patriots?

 

Sochi and Athens were bad no doubt... but LA, Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, and so many other cities had a great time and even now in a days specially in the case of Barcelona and Atlanta they're celebrating their new acquire fame and prestige (tourism $)

[Epigonos]

The city of Los Angeles and its "illustrious" mayor are making a strong bid for the 2024 Olympics. I was in town the last time they were held here and it really wasn't all that bad. One of the great things L.A. has going for it is that little would have to be built to accommodate the games. Housing for the athletes could easily be provided by the use of dorms at UCLA, USC, Cal State Long Beach, and Cal State Fullerton. The L.A. Coliseum, Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium, and by that time a L.A. Rams Stadium will all be available. There is even Santa Anita Race track for the various riding events. The list of already built facilities simply goes on and on. During the last games even traffic worked as trucks were banned form the freeways during daylight hours.

In a recent Wall Street Journal article some I.O.C. officials were quoted as saying that the likelihood of holding the games in another third world country are slight and none. The Rio experience has proven that to be a poor situation at best.

The one real negative is that Peter Ueberroth won't be around to organize them. He ran the entire show with an iron hand and if I remember correctly the city even made money.

[Brian Kevin]

Give it to Cleveland !!!

 

We hosted The Gay Games and it was marvelous our whole city was gay, which was helping to the small businesses in Cleveland UNLIKE the RNN (deep breath) I wouldn't mind seeing them try it in Detroit (give them some glory). Cleveland has proved if you give a "small city" a shot it won't disappoint! So much changes in a city for such events and it makes it more visually appealing and to be honest the security lingers after an event, there are ALOT more cops than ever I've seen downtown. I support the enforcement being around with the casino and newly opened Public Square! New Orleans would be cute too! Also Savannah, GA (talk about the most beautiful city in the USA)

[Kenny]

In a recent Wall Street Journal article some I.O.C. officials were quoted as saying that the likelihood of holding the games in another third world country are slight and none.

Well, I guess that lets out the US.

[mike carey]

Well, I guess that lets out the US.

Well, everywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line, at least!

[marylander1940]

Well, everywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line, at least!

 

How Sydney did after the Olympic games?

[mike carey]

How Sydney did after the Olympic games?

The olympics didn't create a boom after they finished. The main stadium has lost money and been reconfigured but it is still an important venue for major events, and it's the biggest stadium in Sydney (about 82k). Other venues are still in use. There was a surplus of hotel rooms but they have been converted to apartments. The olympics weren't a bonanza, but they certainly weren't a disaster.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

Indianapolis probably could host. It can handle an estimated crowd of 350,000 for the Indy 500. It has also hosted the Pan Am Games, A Super Bowl, and several Final Fours. Several of the US sports' governing bodies are headquartered there. Just not sure the community is that interested in hosting the event