Olympics

[gmwise]

I dont think with the exception of the 1st LA (held) Olympics, any of them lost money.
So I doubt WE would have ended up paying for it.
If someone knows the figures, of the US held Olympics that showed a (loss) or profit.
Please include the link.

The only real reason Chicago lost out, was because the Fascists has become more traitorous and violent.
All the IOC was thinking was "we dont want to expose the Olympian athletes to another Munich type event".

[Bunty]

Anyone who thiks the Obamas and Oprah "lost" the bid for the US is delusional. Chicago was a long shot from the beginning. I wanted Chicago to win, but I think Rio deserves it more....so apparently does the IOC. As for Rush and anyone who takes enjoyment in an American defeat they're .................sadly unamerican. Has it really come to this?

It has come to people like Rush, Hannity and Savage to make it an American thing to do to be against most anything that President Obama stands for.

[Luke]

I was pullin' for Birmingham.

[Hawk405359]

Just saw AP link, so it's official. Didn't realize, I guess, that the IOC went through more than one round of voting. Guess it's between Rio and Madrid now. I agree with Venture in that Rio has always seemed to be the top-runner as a Games have never been held in South America.

They go through more rounds if none of the finalists get a majority in a particular round. If none do, they eliminate the bottom vote getter and vote again, continuing until one of them gets a majority.

I dont think with the exception of the 1st LA (held) Olympics, any of them lost money.
So I doubt WE would have ended up paying for it.
If someone knows the figures, of the US held Olympics that showed a (loss) or profit.
Please include the link.

No actual numbers, but NPR had an interesting story about it where they talked about how the games don't really provide the economic boom the bidders claim they'll be and how it's either much less than they claim, or even a negative affect like in the case of Montreal. Montreal just finished paying the debt from their games 20 years after they held it.

Olympics aren't necessarily an economic bonanza : NPR

And another from NBC Chicago specifically about the overall affect of the Atlanta Olympics.

Atlanta's Olympic Benefit Went to the Dogs | NBC Chicago

All this goes to show is the investment the games take isn't guaranteed to provide a positive economic benefit. Of course, any debt would hopefully fall to the city, rather than the country as a whole, if there was one.

[PennyQuilts]

Articles on the internet insist that a lot of people think this is Bush's fault.

I'm serious.

[gmwise]

No actual numbers, but NPR had an interesting story about it where they talked about how the games don't really provide the economic boom the bidders claim they'll be and how it's either much less than they claim, or even a negative affect like in the case of Montreal. Montreal just finished paying the debt from their games 20 years after they held it....All this goes to show is the investment the games take isn't guaranteed to provide a positive economic benefit. Of course, any debt would hopefully fall to the city, rather than the country as a whole, if there was one.

Thanks Hawk for more information..
I guess the investment in the arenas and the sports center and playing courts,wasnt a guarantee of an economic boom...
Just makes you think of the New Ford Center renovation and the MAPS3 Convention Center, and what is the push for..

[gmwise]

I dont think its Bushs' fault anymore then Obama's failure.
Of course I think Oberhelfers (Limbaugh,Beck,and Boehner) is more to find fault then either Bush or POTUS.

[fire121]

I dont think with the exception of the 1st LA (held) Olympics, any of them lost money.
So I doubt WE would have ended up paying for it.
If someone knows the figures, of the US held Olympics that showed a (loss) or profit.
Please include the link.

The only real reason Chicago lost out, was because the Fascists has become more traitorous and violent.
All the IOC was thinking was "we dont want to expose the Olympian athletes to another Munich type event".

GM, I would love to hear your examples of fascism exhibited and enacted by the republican party.

[MadMonk]

I believe that Chicago lost out because of several factors:

1. Crime - Chicago has a reputation around the world (points finger "bang-bang") and while not as bad as his has been in the past, it's certainly not the safest city as was demonstrated in recent weeks.

2. The fact that a South American country hasn't hosted the games and deserve a chance.

3. The perception of a lack of complete support. Did the other cities on the list have demonstrations aimed at keeping the games out? If they did, you didn't hear much about them.

[Hawk405359]

Thanks Hawk for more information..
I guess the investment in the arenas and the sports center and playing courts,wasnt a guarantee of an economic boom...
Just makes you think of the New Ford Center renovation and the MAPS3 Convention Center, and what is the push for..

Studies show that sports in general tend to cost a city more than they ever make them, which is why they shouldn't be looked at as an investment, but as a venue for the citizens of a city, something to be paid for to improve civic pride and quality of life, like the arts.

The reason the Hornets made money for the city was because OKC didn't actually have to build the infrastructure for them. The team literally just fell into place and played. Now with the expansion of the Ford Center, they are, so you probably won't see any profits to the city from now on.

[fire121]

This is a great article on the Obama's sales pitch to the IOC. The First Narcissist couple at their finest.

American Thinker: The Obamas Violated First Three Rules of Selling

From C. Edmund Wright

In their academic arrogance, they thought they could sell a product they clearly do not believe in (the United States) and moreover, they could do so by stressing the benefits to the seller (Chicago) and not the buyer (the IOC). And to top it off, they committed the faux pas of talking too much about the sales force (themselves) and not about the product or the buyer.


Anyone who has had to succeed in the real business world -- and that includes few if any on Team Obama -- instinctively knows that to get business done you have to believe in what you are doing and offer a product or service that is focused on the benefits to the customer. In the Obama World of Chicago pay-to-play power, business gets done by flexing muscle and clearing the field of your competitors. You don't have to sell anything. You don't have to believe in anything. It is fine to be self-focused. You simply have to apply the power of the applicable political machinery and you win.

He and the First Lady did not even pretend to be proud of us. They went on an unseemly, surreal begging campaign that mixed in uncomfortable bits and pieces of their personal histories with platitudes about what the Olympic Games could do for the children of Chicago. Oh, BTW, the Obama family would personally find it kind of a cool thing for the neighborhood.

The bottom line is this: this was an Obama epic fail period. They were the sales force, they were the focus of the sales presentation and they were the product. The Obamas were there to sell the Obamas with the Obamas. All Obama all the time. And the world said no thanks.

[MadMonk]

I think the committee member's minds were made up before the Obamas ever stepped in front of the podium. However, even if that weren't the case, I doubt that any of the speeches in Chicago would have done much to persuade them.

[fire121]

[gmwise]

I am incredulous at the Fascist loons.
POTUS wasnt the only head of state at Copenhagen trying to sway the IOC.
And I think the ICO had already made up their mind to send it to Rio De Janeiro.
The 3 loons/addicts think by saying it often enough it will become true.
Fascism was defeated once before, it will be defeated again but in the USA.

[Hawk405359]

I think it's a little arrogant of us to assume that the POTUS would automatically provide more clout than the Japanese PM, the Spanish Queen, or any other head of state that attended it. I see no reason why we should declare it a personal failure on his part, or anyone else's. They all sent their biggest guns to advocate it.

[Kerry]

I am incredulous at the Fascist loons.
POTUS wasnt the only head of state at Copenhagen trying to sway the IOC.
And I think the ICO had already made up their mind to send it to Rio De Janeiro.
The 3 loons/addicts think by saying it often enough it will become true.
Fascism was defeated once before, it will be defeated again but in the USA.

You saw the vote counts didn't you? The IOC did not have Rio as the pre-determined winner. That honor went to Madrid. The world doesn't respect Obama - they just see him as a push over.

[gmwise]

I am incredulous at the Fascist loons.
The 3 loons/addicts think by saying it often enough it will become true. uh well make that 4.
Fascism was defeated once before, it will be defeated again but in the USA.

[metro]

I was pullin' for Birmingham.

I was pulling for Tulsa....

[Kerry]

I was pulling for Tulsa....

No way Obama goes to Denmark in support of a Tulsa Olympic bid. Even if it is for the children.

[Luke]

No way Obama goes to Denmark in support of a Tulsa Olympic bid.

Let's hope not. Then Tulsa wouldn't get it for SURE.

[fire121]

From Michelle Obama's sales pitch about herself, “Some of my best memories are sitting on my dad’s lap, cheering on Olga and Nadia, Carl Lewis, and others for their brilliance and perfection.”
Michelle Obama was born in 1964. Carl Lewis was born in 1961.
In 1984, when Lewis competed in his first Olympic Games, Michelle was twenty.
Nadia Comaneci competed in the 1976 Olympics and Olga Korbut was in the 1972 games.
No big deal, unless it was Sarah Palin or any other hated republican.

[Hawk405359]

From Michelle Obama's sales pitch about herself, “Some of my best memories are sitting on my dad’s lap, cheering on Olga and Nadia, Carl Lewis, and others for their brilliance and perfection.”
Michelle Obama was born in 1964. Carl Lewis was born in 1961.
In 1984, when Lewis competed in his first Olympic Games, Michelle was twenty.
Nadia Comaneci competed in the 1976 Olympics and Olga Korbut was in the 1972 games.
No big deal, unless it was Sarah Palin or any other hated republican.

Who knows, she might have been sitting on her dad's lap at 20.

[westsidesooner]

You saw the vote counts didn't you? The IOC did not have Rio as the pre-determined winner. That honor went to Madrid. The world doesn't respect Obama - they just see him as a push over.

Perhaps it wasn't Obamas fault......he was in Copenhagen trying to get the Olypmics to Chicago. I guess the far-right conservatives were really pulling for Chicago as evident in this video.

YouTube - Americans For Prosperity Cheer United States 2016 Olympic Bid Loss

[Luke]

While I'd love the Olympics to be in the USA, preferably closer so I can attend, I'd hate to be the city/state that has to go so far into debt for it all. It's kind of a catch 22.

[PennyQuilts]

who knows, she might have been sitting on her dad's lap at 20.

eeewwwwww!