Chicago Lost: Five Reasons Why
By BJ LUTZ
Updated 5:59 PM CST, Fri, Oct 2, 2009
5. It was Rio's turn
You've heard it before: No South American city has ever hosted the Olympic Games. And with descriptions such as the Games being "transformative" for the nation, or the Games being "the event," it was a highly compelling argument.
4. A little thing called inefficiency
Millenium Park: four years behind schedule and three times over budget...
Dan Ryan Expressway construction: budget doubled from original estimates, to about $1 billion...
Block 37 Transit Station: Over budget "in excess of $100 million" and development halted indefinitely...
3. We just don't have the scratch
Earlier this month, an IOC report called Chicago's bid "ambitious but achievable" and said the city needs an "extensive sponsorship program" to make it work. And earlier this year, Mayor Daley tried to avoid signing the host city agreement. He eventually did, but we're sure that IOC members took notice of the delay and of the financial controversies.
2. We didn't want it badly enough
A Chicago Tribune poll in August showed that only 47 percent of Chicagoans supported bringing the Games to Chicago while 45 percent opposed it. Seventy-five percent opposed the mayor's promise of an unlimited financial guarantee. Many reader comments on this Web site and on other sites in Chicago have shown strong opposition to the Games. And then there was that other Chicago Web site that was actively rooting for another bid.
1. We're corrupt and proud!
The last time the Olympics were in the United States, there were allegations that several IOC members had taken bribes in exchange for their votes for Salt Lake City. Salt Lake!
And now, ostensibly the most corrupt city in the nation -- Chicago -- was asking for the Games. The IOC likely didn't need to be reminded of our three governors, two state officials, 15 state legislators, two congressmen, one mayor, three other city officials, 27 aldermen, 19 Cook County judges and seven other Cook County officials who have been found guilty of a crime by judges, juries or their own pleas since 1972.
We're that awesome.
First Published: Oct 1, 2009 2:24 AM CST
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