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ORIGINAL: servantforuse

I think that any construction jobs in Chicago would be minimal. Most of the infrastructure is already in place. Some events would have been held in Wisconsin. It would not have helped the unemployment numbers as it isn't being held until 2016, 7 years from now.

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ORIGINAL: SpinnerofTales

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Well, it doesn't really seem to be quite so clear cut as that.

The economic benefits of the Olympics for host cities are at best mixed, and the opening bravado often descends into recrimination and regret.... For municipalities, the Olympics deliver more broken dreams than gold medals.

Time

Original Kirata

Well said and well taken, Kirata. The Olympics is indeed a white elephant of events. It's big, important and considered "holy"...but it has a hell of a cost in upkeep and seldom pulls it's weight. I think with the economy as it is, it is perhaps just as well Chicago didn't get it.

I do find it interesting, though, that as part of the fallout of the "rip down the other party no matter what they do" attitude that is becoming general practice for both parties, it's getting harder and harder to tell if the positions taken are due to the merits or simply point taking. This is a good example of that problem.

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The Weekly Standard “world headquarters” also erupted in cheers today at the announcement, although blogger John McCormack later changed his blog post and deleted the reference.
ORIGINAL: housesub4you

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ORIGINAL: MarsBonfire

Still, the reaction by the right wing is telling: they rejoiced at an American city losing out on jobs and an influx of foreign money to their economy. We can only draw one conclusion from this, and that is that the right wing WANTS AMERICA TO FAIL.

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ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

I was wondering how long it would be before someone mentioned the choice didnt rest with chicago due, in big part, to our economy.

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ORIGINAL: SeekingAZ

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ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

I was wondering how long it would be before someone mentioned the choice didnt rest with chicago due, in big part, to our economy.

Yup, bad economy now with the most anti-business administration in modern times. There's no way to know if we'll be in recovery or depression in 2016. If it's depression then the last place on earth you'll want to be is anywhere near a major US city.

Oh, and the little gem that Chicago's bid placed the major event infrastructure in places that are currently slum housing owned by Obama associates who would make millions during the required property sales probably had something to do with it. Apparently the olympic committee has broader news sources than NBC, CBS, CNN and MSNBC and apparently the cult of personality surrounding Obama doesn't extend to all foreigners.

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ORIGINAL: SeekingAZ

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ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

I was wondering how long it would be before someone mentioned the choice didnt rest with chicago due, in big part, to our economy.

Yup, bad economy now with the most anti-business administration in modern times. There's no way to know if we'll be in recovery or depression in 2016. If it's depression then the last place on earth you'll want to be is anywhere near a major US city.

Oh, and the little gem that Chicago's bid placed the major event infrastructure in places that are currently slum housing owned by Obama associates who would make millions during the required property sales probably had something to do with it. Apparently the olympic committee has broader news sources than NBC, CBS, CNN and MSNBC and apparently the cult of personality surrounding Obama doesn't extend to all foreigners.

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ORIGINAL: BKSir

Frankly, I think it has a lot less to do with the political situation, etc, as it does with the fact that, although Chicago is a fun city, it's not an Olympic class city.  In fact, despite the fact that I kind of really like Chicago, I can imagine fewer cities that would be a worse place for the Olympics. 

Rio, on the other hand, I think is an awesome choice.

Tokyo also, great city, but, would have been a terrible place for the Olympics.  Just because a city is freakin' massive, doesn't make it Olympic quality.

The Olympics, in Chicago, honestly, in my opinion, would have completely sucked.  And in the long run, it would not have helped the city any.  It was just a lose - lose situation for everyone involved.