Chicago 2016

I cant imagine the Olympics in Philly. Just doesnt give off that vibe as a large enough or diverse enough city to host such an event.

BigP - You cut me. You cut me real deep. Philly Metro has over 5 million peeps. It is a 90 minute ride from NYC & BAL, and a 2 hour ride from DC. There are 5 major international airports easily accesible from Philly. The problem is not that Philly doesn't have the vibe. It does. The problem is that the area has and continues to lack the leadership to reach our full potential. That is what is truly wrong in Philly, and why we got cut from 2016 race.

Sorry Christof, I know what Philly is like. I play up there several times a year, my cousin lives there adn went to Penn. I guess my problem with Philly is, while very other old city in the US is taking steps to improve its image, and rebuild the older sections of the cities. Philly seems to be embracing its past, and just living with it.

Philly lost it's identity when they came up with the idea of moving the US Capital to a swamp.

I hear you on Philly's leadership problems, Christof. Dallas has the same problem. First they lost the new Cowboy stadium to Arlington, the Texas/OU game will bolt the Cotton Bowl as soon as the new stadium is finished, and now Dallas leaders are sabotaging the Cowboy's bid to host the Super Bowl in a few years. Don't try to get ANYTHING sports related done in Dallas, much less an Olympic bid.

The Olympics are only declining in interest in the USA, they are going strong in the rest of the world. Time difference is always a problem, there's not a lot that can be done about it. And I doubt Chicago will host them in 2016, it's too close to Atlanta. Tokyo and Prague is the opposition so far, but there will no doubt be more entries. It's likely to be in South America or Africa. Cape Town, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro are hence favourites if they enter the running. I think they should go to Dubai personally, but the IOC President likes the idea of Africa or South America. At least if it is in South America, the time difference won't be an issue.

By "close to Atlanta", I mean chronologically, rather than geographically. Just thought I'd clear that up, I didn't explain it too well.

10 years is a big enough gap for Chitown to host the games after Atlanta. South Africa probalby wont get the bid, especially with all the current problem they are experincing with just trying to pull off the 2010 World Cup. Dubui would be an interesting venue, but I worry about too many social ordinaces that would cause problems for Dubai to host it.

Formula One is going to Abu Dhabi (also in United Arab Emirates) and the problems you describe are unlikely to cause a problem - indeed races in Bahrain and Turkey have proved to be huge successes. I think it's too soon after Atlanta. I can remember the last US Olympics! Which is a bad state to be in - I think it should be about another decade before they host it again.

Formula 1 is there for what a weekend or 4 days? Its different when the entire world has to settle in for a month or so. Especially when many of the writers and visitors are expecting a party enviornment.

By 2016 it will have been 20 years since Atlanta... not 10.

Damn Im bad at math, youre right Active sports thx

There were tests in Bahrain for two weeks before the race weekend, which lasted four days.

You are greatly underestimating the amount of money in the American vaults Alex. I gurantee that the US can raise the funds faster and better than South Africa, Prague or the majority of other countries in the world. Weak economy or not.

That as may be, but consider the US Current Account of the Balance of Payments is rapidly approaching $1 billion. And the dollar is getting really weak compared to the pound. And there is fear of a recession in the US economy according to The Economist. The IOC won't hold an Olympics in a country on the edge of a potential economic disaster.

Dont take this the wrong way Alex, but your gloom and doom picture of the American economy proves that you have a genuine understand of economics, but a lack of understanding of the American economy. Economic disaster is a very very long way off for the American market. There is a potiential of an American recession, but many experts even doubt that.

An example of this. Someone in my class goes onto the Internet to buy clothes from American stores, because even after shipping them into Britain, it is still cheaper. People go on holiday to the US and buy stacks of stuff to bring home because it is cheaper. So much so, this person has recieved a letter from HM Revenue and Customs, because if he spends too much more on imports he needs to be taxed (it looks suspiciously like a business). The £v$ rate lately has gone to £1=$2 for the first time in a decade because people are selling dollars and buying pounds, knowing full well that eventually they can buy the dollars back at a lower price. The price of the dollar will go down because there is no demand for them, because everyone is buying pounds. As a result, Britain's economy is getting weaker too. We are barely in good enough shape to host an Olympics - inflation is too high and there's a whole heap of Economic problems that are developing in Britain and the USA at the moment.

I don't think it'll be doom and gloom, it's just not as strong as it needs to be to fund an Olympic Games.

Alex I have a degree in international political economy. I build an entire business on international shipping and importing. Save me the lesson on exchange rates for dollars and pounds. The dollor is experincing a cycle, as markets and currencies do. The bottom is not nearly as deep or as dreary as many have made it out to be. Dont believe me? sit back and watch.

It still has enough juice to fund the games compared to many of its counterparts that are hopeful host nations. Throw in the fact that the U.S. is better suited in regards to infrastructure for hosting than many countries, Chitown is an excellent venue for the games.

Fine by me - I'm just regurgetating what my Economics teacher said today, so at least it won't be me that's wrong.

I agree with you on the infrastructure bit - the likes of Dubai will have to build - but they can do that at the drop of a hat, they don't only have the money to back it up, they have vast open spaces to build stuff too. I don't know - how much land to build on is there in Chicago? How much would need to be built?

I dont think Chicago would need to build that much. Soilder Field can serve as an outdoor stadium it was just redone about 3 yrs ago. The United Center, and the Allstate Arena I believe it is serve as 2 large indoor facilities. Hell even Wrigly and Comenski or US Cellular can be outdoor venues. As far as space, Chicago is an impressive city because it has the money and the facilities of a NYC but its spread out across a lmassive landscape.

Mm... I still prefer Dubai simply because it would be so different to anything that went before it in terms of Olympics. In the same way that Beijing will be in 2008. Still, another case of "wait and see" I suppose.

1 question that I do have is. What about the temps in Dubai? How hot is it duruing July-Sept?

According to my conveniently placed climate Atlas, about 30 to 35 degrees. Chicago is about 25 degrees. That's for July anyway, it'll obviously drop a bit by August, usually when the Olympics are held. So it might be a bit hot, but it'll be a challenge for the athletes.

Alex, what the heck are you talking about? The US is close to an economic disaster? Stop listening to the press over there in Europe. The demise of the US is not at hand.

Yes, it is true that is the economic growth is slowing down. Yet, growth is still expected to occur.

It is true that our current account balance is in the negative. However, people forget that a great majority of the wealth in this world is centered in the US. Mind you, the US holds about 3% of the world's population. So seeing a negative account balance is not as grave, in the short run, as some people think that it is.

As far as the Olympics, it will go where they can get the most money. 2016 will be 20 years since the last summer games being held in the U.S. Since 1996, Europe will have held the summer games twice, asia once, and Australia once. It will be time for the games to return to the Western Hempishere.

Damnit ALex you gotta remember Im an American I work in Farinheit not C' anyways. Once I break out my junior high atlas and conver those temps Ill have a better idea. Its not the athletes performance Im worried about, its the fans comfort. That is what makes or breaks an Olmpics how well does it go over with the crowds.

And yeah 35c is about 95-100F thats pretty damn hot

Well why not South America or Africa then - they seem to have been missed out on the cycle.

By an economic disaster, I mean there might be more unemployment, or homeless numbers might go up. I don't mean a Wall Street 1929 thing. Economic Growth is always going to be there, even dodgy countries like Cambodia have Economic Growth. There's just not much growing, whereas the US has a lot more to grow.

Like Japan has had it's disaster for ages - it had negative inflation until a few years ago. That's what I mean by a disaster... It wasn't really common knowledge, and Japan was still fine as a people, but it's just not a great situation to be in.

South America and AFrica have not had these sort of events because of the exact economic disaster that you have spoke about earlier. Not to mention stability and safety issues, which are huge in todays world. I am still very interested to see the 2010 World Cup in SA just to see if that country can hold such an event. Perhaps Brazil could host an Olympics, but not sure they have the economic backign for it either.

BigPPup, I have a formula at hand to help you!

F = 1.8C + 32 (where F = Farenheit temperature and C = Celsius temperature)

There's even a pattern:

• 0 = 32
• 5 = 41
• 10 = 50
• 15 = 59
• 20 = 68
• 25 = 77
• 30 = 86
• 35 = 95
• 40 = 104

Just thought you'd like to know.

And yeah the homeless problem thing... thats easy to fix here in the USA. We simply ship them out of Chitown to Gary Indiana. They do it here in the Nations Capital all the time.

Indeed I agree they shouldn't host the Olympics. That's why I favour Dubai and not South America. But the IOC would like to host them there. Brazil isn't too bad, it's getting huge exports by chopping down the rainforest. So there economy is improving I suppose. I still like Dubai though...

Really? By choice, or are they forced? I've never heard of that, there'd be uproar if people had to shift from a city to a random outpost far away from their homes...

US currently has an unemployment rate of 4.4%. This is, historically, on the low end of the scale. There are many countries in Europe, Africa, and South America that would die for such a low rate.

The US will also not see a large rise in homelessness. Sure, we are in process of bursting a housing bubble. But that will result in people becoming renters and not owners.

As far as your reference to Japan, Japna had structural economic issues, relating to banking and labor supply movement, that the US does not have.

Its a quiet practice but it happens a lot. Quick way to clean up the city before an inaguration or other big events. They cant complain they are homeless. Matter of fact typically at least with the move they get a shelter for a few days and a few meals. Its not right but its done

I just refered to Japan in terms of that sort of thing that happened is what I call a disaster. I often use hyperbole incorrectly... As for the homeless thing... I don't know what to think. They get a home I suppose, but how do they afford the mortgage? And how do they keep their families informed? No such effort will be made in Britain. Nor in Rio if it went there. Mm... Shocked at the moment.

It can reach the 90's in August in Chicago, sure. But it's the Summer Games - it's going to be a little warm. In 1996 they were held in Atlanta, a warmer climate. Nicknamed "Hotlanta," in fact. Also, to respond to the land to build venues. The proposed venue plan is brilliant. Only one other games has had 100% of the venues in the city limits of the host city and that was Seoul. It will also be the Games with the tightest radius that the venues will be within. Most of the venues exist already. The ones that need to be built will be on the Lakefront/water (kayak, rowing, vball) that has plenty of room. The big one being the Olympic stadium will be built in Washington park that also has plenty of space.

Ah, didn't realize I'd been logged out. That last comment was from me.

Wow. Even with the weakening dollar, the trillion dollar deficit, the complete trade deficit and me being unemployed; the US economy even with a "slowdown" is still a roaring machine. Because of events in the past, we have measures in place to counteract the weakening of our currency. That's how our Treasury handles things. Check our inflation rate with the rest of the world. Other than gas (which goes up just because they kow they can push prices without a true open market), retail prices aren't going up, Our employment rates are as high as they logically should be and even though the doallar is low in comparison to the pound, it's still historically above the mean.

Watch out for the impending inflation in England more (even when you're money is worth more in other countries, it's still the same to you) than a "collapse" of American economy (Like many savvy American Investors, a good % of my $$ are invested overseas reaping benefit from the weakened dollar - so we/I make money on the natural downturns as well).

All it really means is that right now it's not as affordable to travel to England/Europe as it was last year or the year before...

I see what you mean. Over here at A Level, Unit 1 tells you why economic things work. Unit 2 tells you why Unit 1 was wrong...

Exactly. For me that was the switch between high school econ, and college econ and more importantly IPE rather than micro and macro

Indeed... Macroeconomics is Unit 3!

You want me to go Charlie Manuel on you now? :)

I wish I knew who that was. :)

The Chair is a Cilivlized community with educated men and women who can step into an open forum and speak with authority on any number of subjects And if you got a problem with that Ill kick your F!%&#$# A@@$

Charlie Manuel is the current (soon to be former) manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. After an 8-1 loss, a loss in which the opposing team announcers said that the team laid down and the manager could be fired because of it, Ole Charlie got into a shouting match with a member of the radio media in Philly. He cursed the guy out and then made a move at him. He was then restrained by other members of the Phillies.

Oh, I see... It's amazing to know that baseball came from cricket, where something so civilised like cricket became what baseball is with 'roiders, Mr Manuel starting fights etc. Ah well. Perhaps Manny can shed some light at some point in his cricket article... (Hint hint, nudge nudge, reminder...)

Speaking of the Devil, where is the Manny-Mon? I haven't see any comments from him today. Is he slowing down? Has he lost his edge? Will he go the way that Alex did last month? Inquiring minds want to know....

Old age is catching up to the Vet. HE cant play everyday has to rest up for the playoffs.

Alex, I couldn't agree more. Very good point.

If cricket players made even half of what MLBers make, the stakes would be much higher.

Also, try not to sound so smug.

No more freshman econ lessons, theory shmeory

*crickets*

Yep. I mean that the players and coaches are civilised, even if the fans aren't.

that was me

Yeah, so let's enjoy having the Olympics in China where religion, awkward cultural mores and government won't get in the way of having fun... oops!

Dubai is out not for religion, but for security concerns. No way would they put such an event, as the summer games, anywhere close to the Middle East.

Minor investment? It would still cost billions for Monaco to host the Olympics. That is not a minor investment.