Obama to make in-person pitch for 2016 Olympics

[onehandle]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will travel to Denmark to support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, projecting the highest-ever White House profile in lobbying for the international event.

Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to the president, told The Associated Press Monday morning that Obama will leave Thursday and join his wife, Michelle, in Copenhagen, where they'll make the pitch to the International Olympic Committee. Obama would be the first U.S. president to actually appeal in person to the International Olympic Committee for an Olympics event.

The International Olympic Committee is meeting in Copenhagen to select a host city for the 2016 Summer Games. Chicago faces tough competition from Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo.

The White House later formally announced the trip, saying that Obama and his wife "will both make presentations to the IOC during Friday's session. They will discuss why Chicago is best to host the 2016 Summer Games, and how the United States is eager to bring the world together to celebrate the ideals of the Olympic movement." The IOC is scheduled to decide the site on Friday.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090928/ap_on_go_pr_wh/oly_olympics_obama

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I don't know how, but they'll find a way to say this is him destroying white people and America.

[Mass]

1. The whining this morning was about why did it take him so long, and

what would be the effect if the US loses the bid even with Obama coming. This after having whined for a few weeks that he had to go.

[AngryAmish]

2. When the Boss tells you to go, you go

I'm surprised at the surprise.

[WriteDown]

3. Why?

Not a huge Olympics fan myself and the IOC is just about as slimy as it gets.

[salguine]

4. Am I crazy, or does it seem like the US gets the Olympics virtually every other go-round?

Aren't there other countries in the world? I mean, surely across the globe, people are going "the fucking United States AGAIN!?"

[harmonicon]

7. individual cities get the olympics, not countries (nt)

[salguine]

16. *sigh* Yes, I realize that. Nearly all cities, however, are in one country or another.

[harmonicon]

21. well, then think about what cities have money and resources

The third world is right out then. That doesn't leave a whole lot else apart from Europe and parts of the Americas.

[damntexdem]

23. And Chicago has never had one.

Hurrah for the Windy City!

[Romulox]

9. It's all about who can pay the biggest bribe. IOC is corrupt as they come. nt

[sledgehammer]

10. 1904, 1932, 1984, 1996 so far

As a comparison, UK has held it three times (including the schedule 2012 games). So it's not all that often for the US.

There are other countries/cities in the world, but not that many can host an Olympics (infrastructure, money, interest, etc). US has the best facilities and organization on Earth for such an event. That's why the US cities are considered strong candidates.

Here's the progression since the last games were held in the US:

Atlanta -> Sydney -> Athens -> Beijing -> London -> ?

It's gone to Australia, Asia, and Europe (twice). Africa doesn't have many cities who are viable candidates. So it leaves South America, and Rio is a contender for 2016 as well.

[City Lights]

22. The US has already hosted the Olympics more times than any other nation.

Four times for the summer games and four times for the winter games.

[frazzled]

5. If I thought this was going to do any lasting good for the city, I'd be more for it

If there were plans to significantly upgrade the CTA (especially the El infrastructure) this would all be worth it. But there aren't. So I kind of secretly hope we don't get it.
A lot of people will get rich, but the "people" will not really benefit in the end.

And frankly, I think the aging, ugly transportation system will mostly be what could sink the Chicago bid. That said, never underestimate the power of the president to push it over the top.

[WriteDown]

6. They will demolish a ton of lower income housing....

in Chi-town if this happens. The displacement that will result if this bid goes through will not be a good thing.

[frazzled]

14. Well, that is already happening right ow, regardless (e.g., Harold Ickes Homes)

And frankly, it needs to happen, hard as it is. Ickes was built in 1955, and it is just a horrible hotbed of gangs and crime. That said, it the fates of the tenants is not always a good one. For some, it is a long-awaited chance to get out and start over. For others, it means relocation to another project, something they've been trying to escape their whole lives. It's really tough, but it is happening despite the Olympics.

Here's an article regarding the necessity, and heartbreak, of tearing down Ickes:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2082205/demolition_of_the_harold_ickes_housing.html?cat=8

[Gidney N Cloyd]

12. As I sat in a traffic jam on the NW Tollway/Kennedy Expy Friday at 8:00 PEE-EMM...

...I couldn't help thinking about how insane transportation would be if they tried to shoehorn the Olympics into Chicago.

[goclark]

19. I lived in Los Angeles when the Olympics were here in 1984

It was exciting!

http://history1900s.about.com/od/fadsfashion/a/olympics1984.htm

Yes there were traffic jams etc but we were proud to have the games here.

I also am reminded of the 1932 Olympics held in Los Angeles. I wasn't born at the time : ) but everyday I enjoy the beauty of my neighborhood. Our area is called Baldwin Hills/View Park and the article mentions how the area was built for the Olympics.

From Wikipedia.....

Baldwin Hills Village, Office BuildingBaldwin Hills is a district in southwestern Los Angeles, California, in South Los Angeles. It is located on the central hills overlooking the Los Angeles Basin, and in the flats immediately to their north. Baldwin Hills and other surrounding geography are named for the famous 19th century horse racing pioneer, Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. Baldwin Hills Estates is one of the wealthiest majority-African American areas in the United States, and is sometimes called "the Black Beverly Hills".<1>


I watched the 24th Anniversary show for Oprah a few weeks ago.
and it was fabulous!

Excitement was in the air in Chicago ~ bring the games to Chicago please! :patriot:

[Romulox]

8. Two wars and a depression going on. This is an inappropriate use of resources. nt

[fujiyama]

18. I'm gonna have to agree

The hell with the Olympics. I'd rather have him strong arming senators to get a strong public option passed.

The Olympics are the last thing on anyone's mind.

[sledgehammer]

28. I disagree. I went to college in Atlanta from 1994-1997.

The city experienced an incredible change for the 1996 Olympics. Almost every venue was converted into something very useful (I think the equestrian park was the only exception).

Universities got new facilities and dorms. Roads were improved. The city was cleaned up. Downtown was completely renovated and became livable again. Public transportation got a free advertisement. Some extremely dangerous areas were made somewhat safer. Atlanta became a destination of choice for business/conventions. Many, many jobs were created - temporary and permanent. There was lots of excitement, lots of volunteerism, and lots of pride.

On the negative side - a lot of low-income housing was destroyed and people were displaced. That was something that had to happen regardless if Atlanta ever wanted to revitalize downtown. Still, it's something regrettable and no one ever learns from it.

Of course, if you give me a choice of healthcare getting passed vs Olympics, there's no question I would take the former. But I don't see how the Olympics are going to affect the healthcare debate, besides Obama's quick trip overseas to push the cause.

The Olympics are certainly not the last thing on my mind. Here's hoping for Chicago 2016!

[WriteDown]

32. Yep, gentrification is always regrettable...

:eyes:

What a PERFECT way to put it.

[Unvanguard]

11. I'm never sure why any city should want the Olympics.

They really have much more important things to spend their money on...

[GinaMaria]

13. As a cook county tax payer, I'm not for having the olympics here

While vendors and businesses do well when their city hosts the Olympics, the taxpayer does not. The city will end up with some serious debt, according to NPR. We already pay the highest sales tax in the country. If Obama is involved, maybe there's a chance of some fund raising because without it, we know no one is bailing out the taxpayers.

[mopinko]

29. every american games made money. the big money is on peripheral projects

improvements, that cities would have made, or would like to have made, but get around to because the olympic games are coming. the big talk about london's expenditures is about the renovation of half of the west end, really not related to the games, just prompted by the games. the other place where money goes it to big infrastructure that may or may not be useful besides the games. our bid has virtually none of that.
again, every american city since lake placid has made money.
la has an endowment for youth sports from their games that is providing afterschool and other sports programs for kids still. in fact it has grown.
so far the bid committee has not spent a dime of taxpayer money. they have a small surplus from their own fundraising.

big cities are made of bread and circuses. it what makes us different from small towns. circuses are a big part of our economy. this will feed it. it needs it.

[troubledamerican]

15. Why is Obama handing the Right Wing more ammo?

What do unemployed young people think when they see Obama doing this?

Are they more likely to be open to fascist hate talk radio?

Why is Obama doing this?

[earthside]

26. Good question.

I would sure like to see a photo of Pres. Obama at his desk in the Oval Office working, making decisions about Iraq, Afghanistan, health insurance reform, etc.

Going to Denmark to pitch for a multi-billion dollar subsidy to the world's broadcast television/radio networks seems a bit trivial.

I can understand having pride in your home city, but sheesh, Obama needs to settle down some and stay in the White House and look and act presidential.

[2Design]

17. any of those others cities would be great - which is the safest? n/t

[change_notfinetuning]

20. At least the pot holes would get fixed that year. n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

24. with all the money going into Iraq, why not put it there

could have already built an Olympic Village by now - call it 'Mission Accomplished Village'

[timo]

25. bad idea

If he doesnt get it, he will be "to blame"!!!!!

[DeadEyeDyck]

30. you can only ask

can't hold that against him...

[JCMach1]

27. WHY???

To give Chicago the right to rip-off taxpayers for all the infrastructure?

[excess_3]

31. who is paying for travel expenses? n/t