Chicago Hopes for 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games

With each passing day, many Chicagoans continue to hope they can persuade the International Olympic Committee to choose Chicago to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic summer games. Leading the parade of hopefuls is Chicago's Mayor, Richard Daley, who has already campaigned nationwide, as well as constantly laying out major plans that he hopes will make Chicago appear to be the perfect place to host the 2016 summer games. Since hosting the Olympic Games would be such a huge event, talks about it leave both supporters and critics.

While many Chicagoans want to be the host city, they're worried about the heavy cost it would take to make Chicago the 2016 Olympic destination. Those who are against the games being here are not just concerned with the cost of the games being spent with tax payers money, they're voicing their opinion that the city needs more important changes for the people who live there. Their reasons for being against it range from Chicago's current high unemployment rate, to education, as well as the large amount of homeless people living in the city. They feel as though if this city can make such a drastic turn around to host games, why can't it come up with the money to fix the many problems this city already faces.

As far as how the cost of the games will be covered, the Mayor of Chicago insists that it will not be tax payers dollars but the bulk of it will be covered by private investors. Concerning unemployment within the city, the plan to get the Olympic and Paralympics would create jobs not only for Chicagoans but for those in neighboring states as well. The games are foreseen to create about "315,000 full-time jobs for one year, which would generate $22.5 billion in economic development for Illinois in over an 11 year period." Some residents voiced their concern about possibly losing their homes do to construction for the games venues but the Olympic plan points out that they intend on using existing facilities such as the lakefront and various parks, so no residents need be concerned about being displaced. Another good point the plan has that may ease the doubters in Chicago is that the new venues that will be built for the different sporting events will be permanent; therefore, Chicagoans will be able to use them for recreation events and activities after the games have concluded.

People who are in favor of the city of Chicago hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympics games feel that it will not only unite the residents of the city and America, but the entire world. Many successful people are on board for supporting the games to be in Chicago. Some heavy hitting names include not only 2008 Olympic medalists Shawn Johnson and Michael Phelps, but also world renown Chicago talk show host Oprah Winfrey and of course former Senator of Illinois and now President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. The last two names stated only bring more excitement to not only Chicagoans wanting the games, but all Americans who would like the games to be held in the United States.

The other cities that Chicago is competing with include Tokyo, Madrid, and Rio de Janerio. No doubt it will be a tough decision to make with all the other contenders being a great location to host the games as well. The countdown is on, and the final decision will be made in October; just a month away! Chicagoans are at the edge of their seats, waiting on what they hope to be the greatest city that has ever hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Chicago 2016 Candidate City
www.chicago2016.org/

Tribune Poll
archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/feb/08/local/chi-olympics-poll08feb08
Support for the Chicago Olympics Tempered by Opposition to Using Taxes For Games