2016 Olympics In Chicago? The Real Effects

“Those in favor of the 2016 Olympics to be held in Chicago say I.” Plenty of hands raise, 1,110,269 to be exact, and they remain high in the air, along with the lingering noise of 1,110,269 “I’s” that spate into the atmosphere. When you look further down the arm, you see the button down shirts the suit jackets, and the ties that top off the corporate look. The ring leader, who has their hand so far in the air it hurts, is Richard. But this is no ordinary Richard; this is Richard Daley, the mayor of Chicago. Those who keep their hands down, and sit with their arms folded across their breast are the citizens, the citizens of the Englewood and other close neighborhoods. They look in disgust at the people who have never took a stroll down Garfield, the people who don’t have a child of theirs dead from violence at a CPS school. They look with disgust, and also fear. Fear that the worse has been realized. These citizens have officially lost a say in their neighborhood as though they ever had one before.

The corporate portion of Chicago fully supports the 2016 Olympics being held in our economically collapsing city. The city currently faces a budget deficit approaching $420 million. They project a $141 million shortfall this year that will balloon to $420 million by 2009,” Mayor Daley stll wants to have the Olympics in Chicago. But wait…. The cost of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was exceeding 44 billion dollars. A more accurate list shows the truth. So one is left to inquire how can a city that is to be $420 million in debt, pay for an event that (has just past) can potentially cost $44 billion? Recently, the Sun-Times announced that if the Olympics were held here, the cost would be 4.8 billion. What could this city possibly need $4.8 bilion for? Well according to the same source, “Among the listed revenue projections were: $675 million as the local committee’s share of broadcast rights; $335 million as its share of international licensing deals; and $246 million for private donations, some of which would buy naming rights for permanent Olympic venues.” Really… And what type of profit does Chicago expect to make? Typically the city renews itself by pricing tickets at a fairly good amount due to large tourism, or higher to gain great sums of money form the tourists. How much money is the city expecting? “Ticket sales would generate $705 million, based on 85 percent capacity rates. Opening ceremony tickets will average $1,216 and the closing ceremony about $1,000. For prime events such as swimming and basketball, the average seat is $141. These ticket costs “compare favorably” with other major sporting events, according to Chicago officials. They also said half the event tickets would be priced less than $50.” Hmmm. Chicago seems really prepared for the 2016 Olympics. They have a way to make more debt and get others pay for it.
Other questions arise dealing with the Olympics. Besides paying for the ceremonies, and construction, where are these athletes going to stay? How are they getting here? If about 20, 000 athletes are coming, what place is bug enough to house them all? Well according to http://nogameschicago.com/, Sun-Times real estate columnist Don DeBat wrote in Friday’s paper: “Chicago’s $4.8 billion Olympic Games bid features details about a new neighborhood that is planned to house some 16,000 athletes and officials on the current site of Michael Reese Hospital on the Near South Side. Preliminary Olympic Village plans, drafted by architects at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, call for 21 high-rises, each about 12 stories high built in rows on grid-style streets on the 37-acre site of the shuttered hospital near 31st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. Some 2,000 to 3,500 housing units are planned across the giant 128-acre Olympic Village neighborhood just south of McCormick Place. Plans also call the village to become a mixed-income residential community after the Games. As the economy improves, it is likely that a good percentage of the housing units in this brand new neighborhood could be sold to investors, rented during and after the games, and later converted to condominium ownership, experts say.” Well what happens to all of the other people who lived here first? Mr. DeBat doesn’t have an answer to that question. And when I called the mayor’s office, I was directed to another line, where my call was neglected. How shocking.

The city of Chicago is clearly not ready to host anything that would cause major conflicting to budgeting. Then again, does anyone in power even care? The choice is not in the public’s hand. Especially since the public did not induct itself to be on the bid. Will you be ready whatever the choice may be? Well that’s up to you to decide.