Chicago Games: Benefits Far Outweigh the Risks

Thousands of people from across Chicago have joined together to support Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, because they know what it could mean for the future of our city.

The Games' potential legacy for kids -- in terms of programs and in upgraded or new neighborhood athletic facilities -- is unmatched. Hosting the Games would allow us to continue a sports program for children that we have begun in Chicago and are working to export to other U.S. cities. Chicago 2016 and World Sport Chicago have already exposed more than 30,000 Chicago youth, through clinics and other events, to new sports and long-term programs that help them stay active and learn the life values that sport teaches--respect for the rules, respect for competition, and self-respect. Through these efforts we are hoping to create solutions not only for Chicago's young people but for children and teens across our country and around the globe.

Locally, facilities such as the Olympic Stadium in Washington Park would be reconfigured after the Games into a new amphitheater for multi-sport activities, concerts and other entertainment. A warm-up pool would remain as a permanent aquatics facility, and the Washington Park Armory could be transformed into a multisport facility to support these youth legacy programs.

I can't say often enough how strong our financial plan is--and how highly unlikely it is that the taxpayers of Chicago would be put at risk. We cannot let naysayers who focus only on the perceived "risk" of participation dissuade us from pursuing a project with so many potential benefits for Chicago's residents. I feel, and many agree, the greatest risk we face is not taking advantage of this unique opportunity to engage and enrich Chicago's children by hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

 

Comments

[GibsonSG]

What was the last city to actually turn a profit from hosting the Olympics? Beijing claims it did, if you don't count costs to build infrastructure or buildings. Yet this joker thinks Chicago will not end up in the red? He may be right, after all, Chicago is a shining example of how to brilliantly run a city and always have a budget surplus. Maybe Daley can get the same company who is now running the parking meters to handle some duties at the Olympics. They've been doing a bang up job with the parking meters, right?

[48thGuy]

To you no games folks, kindly leave Patrick Ryan alone to do his job....A 2016 Olympics hosted in Grant Park is gonna make Dr Rogge remark the Chicago Games as the greatest ever! AND INDEED HE WILL BE CORRECT!!!...Leave the man alone to do his job...With private financing, proper insurance and an independent oversite commission, preferably from some place else, the 2016 Games will be a big winner for our City and our neighborho­ods...Priv­ate financing must in place, otherwise somebody would be proposing a bond offering, and I'm no chump on this finance stuff either.....The infrastructure is already there thanks to the work of Daniel Burnham and other civic leaders like Montgomery Ward and a man most dear to our Chicago souls Marshall Field, but let's not go there right???...I could go on about the Columbian Expo 1893, but why don't you go down to Jackson Park and see for yourselves...The Plan is great!...Yes, your points about taxes are probably correct, but its not the 2016 Games though that are going to trigger those increases...Its stuff like the sewers and streets....So, bring on the Games!!!... And lets be great about it!!!

[chuckfirst]

President Obama has gone to Africa and scolded,and criticized African leaders on their lack of Democratic Government. Do you know The President comes from a city that is hardly a example of Democracy. President Obama's friend and mentor Mayor Richard Daley,has run Chicago with an iron fist for over 20 years. The Chicago Election board is run by an Attorney,who annually rakes in over 12 million dollars in city Business. Corruption in Chicago is on steroids. Chicago by far is probably the most corrupt city in the United States. President Obama endorsed Daley and stated "Daley has cleaned up corruption to his satisfaction".Mayor Daley's scams involved stealing pension funds,confiscation of private property for minor infraction­s,freezing Back Accounts,contract rigging,minority contract fraud,etc etc. Mayor Daley's grand scheme is the 2016 Olympic bid. The 2016 Olympic would allow Daley and his minions to feather their personal nest for decades. Mayor Daley 2016 organization will be given Government powers to steal property,deemed necessary to promote their Olympic games. At first Daley stated no tax money would be use to host Olympic games. Now he has flip Flop and given the International Olympic Committee a blank check. Most of the prime Contractors connected to Daley have shady organized crime back grounds.Chicagoans will be paying for Daley's 17 day circus for decades. Chicagoans do not for to pay for the dreams of a twisted little.These video sum it up.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4v5ihLlYKQ&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Echicagoclout%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded

[gavrielle]

I've already written the IOC to tell them what Chicagoans really think of the Olympic swindle coming to our city. I suggest anyone who agrees that this boondoggle is just another attempt to enrich a handful of politicians and their friends write or call and tell the IOC to go elsewhere.

President: Jacques Rogge
International Olympic Committee
Château de Vidy
1007 Lausanne
Switzerland

Tel : [phone]
Fax : [phone]

[twogunmojo]

and even though huffpo is not reporting gun violence in chicago doesn't mean your city has solved its crime problem...nor it is likely to by the time the olympics comes around....

[REGONE]

Pat Ryan my wealthy friend from the burbs hello and your 2016 bid is losing steam. Can you take some of those billions made from the insurance giant AON from your bank account to fund the Olympics instead of gambling on struggling tax payers? If so, Chicagoans will support the called 2016 "bid". Also, stop using children as a pawn to gain support for the games. These facilities should be part of the communities without the Olympics if Daley wanted to do what's right. That's why he's gonna lose in the next election because he doesn't care about Chicago and it's citizens.

[GLN 60611]

Sorry, Pat, but your words ring hallow. Where is your empirical evidence to support your argument?

Your words are just more lame political spin: “ POTENTIAL legacy”; “COULD BE transformed;” and "HIGHLY UNLIKELY."

These carefully chosen words are not guarantees, Pat, they are platitudes. I am not buying it, since . my sales and property taxes are high enough, thanks to Dick Daley and Todd What’s His Name.

Since your company, Aon Corporation, is a leading global provider of risk management services, what is preventing AON from underwriting any and all financial risk to the citizens of Chicago?

BTW: When you have to stoop to playing the “it’s good for our kids” argument, your ship is taking on more water and sinking fast.

Viva la Rio de Janeiro 2016!

[ToniChicago]

Having seen the debacle that was the new parking meter system, and how the City went about distributing the new blue recycle bins, there's no way it can handle the Olympics. Our blue bins were distrubuted in the streets as opposed to the alleys, (because they said it was too difficult to figure out the numbering system in the alleys). many of the bins are still sitting out in the streets because far too many were allocated per house, and some people just can't be bothered to take them round to the alleys.
Then, as would have been expected if anyone had thought the whole thing out, there were far too many bins of any color in the alleys, which makes it very difficult to get in and out of garages. Oh yes, you can call 311 to have the extra black bins taken away. Yeah right. Talk about job creation.

[TheMoon]

Geez, what a bunch of whiners. Even if the taxpayers had to pay the WHOLE $500 million, it would be about $500/household. Sheesh. Or, we can charge a $1 toll for suburbanites coming in to the city on the Eisenhower for a year.

Think of how many construction and other jobs that will be created, think about the tourist traffic increase, the infrastructure improvements. We have OBAMA in the White House - don't you think we could get some Federal money if we absolutely needed it?

You want to turn Chicago into St. Louis? Think small.

You want to be a WORLD CLASS city? Make big plans, like Burnham said.

[47th]

Moon, I would appreciate it if you would pay my 500$ share. tHANKS IN ADVANCE.

[TheMoon]

Well, you're not going to HAVE to pay $500, so I will pay EVERYBODY'S $500. It's all on me.

Sheesh.

[Giwhiz]

Fortunately, for the taxpayers, Mr. Ryan, it is not up to you to decide. It is up to the IOC, & no matter how much our elected officials dissemble about a minimally risky financial plan, there are few that actually live here that are stupid enough to buy it. Trust is to be earned, not demanded, and based on the ongoing & sordid history of corrupt affairs in this County, and throughout the State, I hope to God the IOC will award South America with the opportunity to host the Olympics. Our Elected Officials should treat the Citizens of this State & City with some respect before they grovel for recognition--on a world stage--which they do not deserve! Richie Daley can go choke on it.

[Aldyth]

Go right ahead and have the Olympics in Chicago. Just don't come to us downstaters for a nickel when there are millions in unpaid bills when it is all over.

[Cheryl44]

You can't 'say how strong our financial plan is' because it sounds to me the plan is to stick it to the taxpayers of Chicago. How many times do we have to tell you we don't want the Olympics? It's going to cost too much.

[cavallo]

The people of Chicago will receive nothing from the millions & millions of taxpayer dollars Daley & his henchmen will spend on Olympics.

That money would be better spent on improving the lives of ordinary Chicagoans, not the rich, who will be the only ones to benefit from such profligacy.

Chicagoans need good education; clean, safe streets, jobs for the unemployed, and housing for homeless.

Forget the Olympics. It's just another scam on the poor.

[delphillips]

Ah, but we Chicagoans will receive big traffic headaches for 2 weeks, especially considering they aren't planning any public transportation improvements AND closing one lane in each direction on venue routes for busses to transport the athletes. So, Michigan ave, already heavily clogged during rush hours, will be even worse.

I LOVE the Olympics and their spirit, but without better planning and better infastructure by the city, I can't see how this can be a win-win.

That being said, IF we get awarded the games, I'll be excited and attend activities.

[Mark Hess]

"...and how unlikely it is that the taxpayers of Chicago would be put at risk."

Mayor Daley promised to sign a deal with the IO guaranteeing at least $500 million in taxpayer dollars to cover any runover cost the Olympics might incur. Guess you're not really at risk if you've already taken the damage.

[furtivelook]

Let's don't waste our precious resources on the Olympics.
Mr. Ryan, I'd rather buy books for our young people than ball fields.