Bears support Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid
With the announcement of the 2016 Olympic host city just hours away, the Bears chimed in as they got back to business on Wednesday to prepare for the Detroit Lions. From Zach Zaidman’s Twitter account…
"Jay Cutler said, “I think it’d be good for the city,” said Cutler of Chicago possibly hosting Olympics” and went on to joke “I don’t know if I’ll be here for that. Traffic is bad enough right now.”"
According to WGN TV:
"Defensive tackle Anthony Adams believes an Olympics in the Second City is a first-rate idea, and he joked he’s “been doing extra tumbles, things on the pommel horse and rings” along with anything else “in my power to get the bid.”"
Who needs President Obama to show up for the final push when these guys are throwing their support in for the city?I am really torn on this issue. On the one hand, I think it will be really cool for Chicago to get Olympics. It will rejuvenate the south side of the city and rebuild the infrastructure. It will create jobs and I think it could transform the city like the World’s Fair did back in the late 1800’s. This according to Wikipedia:
"The World’s Columbian Exposition — also known as The Chicago World’s Fair — was a World’s Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World. Chicago bested New York City, Washington, D.C. and St. Louis, Missouri, for the honor of hosting the fair. The fair had a profound effect on architecture, the arts, Chicago’s self-image, and American industrial optimism."
Selfishly, it will clearly be a major pain in the ass for 2+ weeks with the city coming to a complete standstill. If the Olympics come here, put me on the first train out of town.
Speaking of heading out of town, Chicago sports teams will be displaced big time. The Cubs and Sox will be on major road trips. The Bears will probably be impacted too and their preseason games and probably early season games will be affected, not to mention the toll that Soldier Field will pay. You think high school kids tear up the field? Wait until you see what the Polish soccer team does to the field!
Obviously the cost and corruption are the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Chicago can’t do anything on time and on budget; the Soldier Field renovation being a prime example of how Chicago and it’s politics can get in the way of doing things the right way.
Will Daley’s cronies make a bundle on the Olympics? Yes! Will taxpayers have to pick up the tab on the cost overruns? Hell yes, no matter what promises the Mayor has made. Welcome to Chicago! It’s going to be an interesting ride!