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Fri Oct 02, 2009 2:05 pm EDT

2016 Olympics: Chicago's loss is also the world's

By Maggie Hendricks

Rio de Janeiro is going to be an amazing host for the Olympics. They know how to throw a party, so the 2016 Olympics will be a celebration like none other. But as a lifelong Chicagoan, I can't help but feel that the world is missing out by not bringing the party to the Windy City.

As I stood among the thousands gathered at Daley Plaza for the announcement rally, I marveled at the different groups represented there. Black, white, Latino, Asian, young, old, suburban, rural, urban -- we were all there. The protesters I've heard so much about, but haven't actually seen? They were not there. All of that support from an incredibly diverse group of people? The 2016 Olympics won't have that.

Riding the L home, I passed by the DePaul men's soccer team's practice. It's uncanny that no matter the time of year, whenever I walk out my front door, I see some Chicagoan practicing a sport. Whether they are running along the lakefront, going to a Bears game, or playing basketball at a nearby court, Chicagoans are passionate about sports. That undying devotion to all things sports? The 2016 Olympics won't have that.

As I walked home from the L stop, I passed by Thai, Mexican, Italian, German, Greek, Spanish, Indian and American restaurants, all fragrant from their lunchtime offerings. I stood in the shadow of beautifully designed buildings. The food and architecture that Chicago is known for? The 2016 Olympics won't have that.

Though they will be charmed in Rio, the world will miss out by not coming to my city for the Olympic games. Chicago, on the other hand, will be just fine. This is a city that has survived a fire, floods, riots and a century of futility from one of its baseball teams. Nothing, not even losing the Olympics, can break our spirit. 

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38 Comments

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  1. Duk
    1. Posted by 'Duk Fri Oct 02, 2009 2:09 pm EDT

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    Well said, Maggie.
  2. Patriots!
    2. Posted by Patriots! Fri Oct 02, 2009 2:22 pm EDT

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    Thank goodness...obama can get back to work...oh wait, has he ever worked since he was put into office
  3. Duk
    3. Posted by 'Duk Fri Oct 02, 2009 2:26 pm EDT

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    No, he's been too busy clearing brush on his ranch in Texas ... Oh, wait, wrong Preisdent.
  4. Hans Gruber
    4. Posted by Hans Gruber Fri Oct 02, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    The US had the Olympics in 1980, 1984, 1996 and 2002. Not to mention Calgary and Vancouver in 1988 and 2010 which are not far from the border. South America deserves a shot. Chicago will get it eventually.
  5. charles
    5. Posted by charles Fri Oct 02, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    Chicago? No way! The street gangs would have conducted "driveby's" during the lighting of the torch and the vendors would have been selling crack outside the gates. Chicago is an embarrasment to the average American.
  6. DARRYL E
    6. Posted by DARRYL E Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:30 pm EDT

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    "Embarrassment"(two (s) by the way) where are you from "idiotville" Chicago is one of the greatest cities in the world hands down. I agree that it is long overdue the limelight is shared with other countries and I applaud them for that, but what a loss for the world. Just in case you're wondering, no I don't live in Chicago I live in Florida.
    GO OBAMA !!!! \
    Keep trying to fix Pres. Bush's F@#k ups!
  7. atriebull
    7. Posted by atriebull Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    Charles is an embarrassment to EVERY human being in the world. Get a life, dude.
  8. ION
    8. Posted by ION Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    What a sentimental piece of garbage. The corrupt politicians of Chicago lost out on an opportunity to enrich themselves at the taxpayer’s expense. I applaud the IOC's decision. Chicagoans can go back to rooting for their "professional" sports teams. The spirit of Olympic competition and amateur athletics is better served by Rio. All the celebrity endorsements on behalf of Chicago apparently made little impression on the IOC.
  9. dorfineer
    9. Posted by dorfineer Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    Now why did she have to mention the Flubs? Seriously, being from Chicago it's hard to understand why so many of my fellow second city denizens have such a hard on for a team that loses and serves only to provide an excuse for yuppies to get drunk?
    As for the Olympics, who cares? Chicago is much better off without it. We can now clean out any politicians that were associated with it, and get back to sports that actually matter in this city: football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and public marathons.
  10. edward s
    10. Posted by edward s Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:27 pm EDT

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    Chicago did not lost it was USA for all rudeness and for luck of respect for whole world
    We did deserves for this embarrassment maybe it will be lesson for all of us that there is not World series in baseball but USA championship etc we need to show respect for world otherwise they live us ALONE WITH NO FRIENDS rude but alone
  11. jon a
    11. Posted by jon a Fri Oct 02, 2009 6:05 pm EDT

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    Alright Edward, you cannot peice together a sentence for your life. You're an embarassment to literate people. Also, there is a baseball team in Canada, don't forget.
  12. DarrellS
    12. Posted by DarrellS Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    Even Michael Jordan moved out of Chicago! I here he built a mansion in Florida! Chicago finished last in voting for a reason and Obama had absolutely no pull with the powers that be. China put on a show that needs a follow up and Chicago offers what? I love America but Chicago hosting an Olympic event would have been interesting if not embarrassing.
  13. marvin
    13. Posted by marvin Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:31 pm EDT

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    Jacques Rogge (IOC chairman) was elected in 2001 and in his acceptance speech he made it very clear that his mandate was to move the Olympic games to sites that have never had the games before---thus Rio had these games already---Chicago essentially wasted $70 million on a bid that was never going anywhere. Another thing Beijing won the 2008 games over Toronto (which the IOC conceded had by far a superior bid)--China won the games because they lost the 2000 games to Sydney over IOC voter irregularities. The next time the games come to North America (?2024) Toronto will be a lock. (2020 will be going to South Africa--likely Cape Town or Durban). The IOC is still very angry at the US over the fiasco of Atlanta (1996) and the bribery scandal of Salt Lake City (2002).
  14. solutionking
    14. Posted by solutionking Sat Oct 03, 2009 2:46 am EDT

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    Wow One word - ARROGANT!
    Ask most people in the world, I am pretty sure people prefer seeing beaches and mountain than lake Michigan
    Don't get me wrong, I love Chicago, but the city is just not right for Olympics
  15. mrknowhow
    15. Posted by mrknowhow Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:18 am EDT

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    WOW! Who in the hell, or right mind think it is even morally right? Did we forget that this is Obama's so called hometown where he went to church and listened to a racist preacher until he found that it might risk his chance for election?
    Another thing that is bothersome, there were and still are other cities that are more qualified to be a representative of the United States for the Olympic games.
    Besides all that, read on how the different communities of the city were looking at the possibility of hosting the games as a beacon of light. In other words, interest groups were looking at the games as a way to fix they're problems. That says alot about Chicago and Illinois. I mean if there is a problem, then the city should fix it, if the city can't, then the state, sort of like a chain of command. These people can't even do that!
  16. MeganS
    16. Posted by MeganS Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:32 am EDT

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    What about what the 2016 Olympics WILL HAVE in Rio?
    You forgot to mention that Maggie Hendricks!
    I suggest you do a follow up article and tell about all the wonderful things the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will have and quit complaining.
  17. Kyle
    17. Posted by Kyle Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:12 am EDT

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    I hope all of you posting anti-Chicago remarks are living in another country because I think you forgot exactly what the Olympics are about. It's about having the chance to cheer on your home country. And if you're a true American, why wouldn't you want the games right here in America? Because when they raise the flags at the opening ceremonies, I don't care if the games are in the corner of Montana or in Chicago. The fact is we can draw the biggest fan base and give ourselves an edge in the games. Forget the city, remember the country...
  18. Jason E
    18. Posted by Jason E Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:22 am EDT

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    I've visited Rio several times and I think it will do a fantastic job of hosting the Olympics. Don't get me wrong...Rio has its problems (high murder rate, poor infrastructure, lack of hotel rooms) but I always root for the little guy. Besides with all the beautiful people, beaches and mountains who wouldn't want to go to Rio?
  19. sergio p
    19. Posted by sergio p Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:38 am EDT

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    Theres a lot of people that have commented and just dont make any sense. I'm from Chicago and I'm happy for Rio and getting the Olympics. The first Olympics in South America and they are being held in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Born and raised in Chicago, to me there is no better place than this city. I would have loved for the Olympics to be held here, but we didnt get them....so lets move on and stop being mad at Obama and the politicians because we didnt get the Olmpics....there are other things we have to worry about.
  20. steve
    20. Posted by steve Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:41 am EDT

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    Of the course the well composed comments are followed by red minus signs cause thats typical of the people who hate Chicago and are fighting mental health, so please give me lots of nice red marks and have a lousy day .
  21. steve
    21. Posted by steve Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:42 am EDT

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    Of the course the well composed comments are followed by red minus signs cause thats typical of the people who hate Chicago and are fighting mental health, so please give me lots of nice red marks and have a lousy day .
  22. steve
    22. Posted by steve Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:48 am EDT

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    So stupid " most people would prefer to see Beaches" Chicago has them across the city and downtown so what the hell do you mean? People look at games not mountains anyhow stupid. Go to you tube and look at Chicago before you try to blow smoke up our skirts.
  23. steve
    23. Posted by steve Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:54 am EDT

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    Chicago is beautiful and cleaner then NYC or Los Angeles and they had the games in 1984 in Los Angeles smog. I lived in LA then. Rio has more crime then Chicago, Japan would have been fine.
  24. steve
    24. Posted by steve Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:59 am EDT

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    You think Chicago is bad? Try Philly and Detroit which is Murder capitol of the USA , not Chicago and Rio is also worse for Crime then Chicago.
  25. KenF
    25. Posted by KenF Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:15 am EDT

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    It's pretty bad, actually it's terrible when a President is more concerned with the 2016 Olympics than he is with the lives being lost in Afghanistan, the unemployment in the US. But then all he is concerned with is his agenda, and getting his programs passed. So far they are all bad for America, and hopefully they will all fail!!!

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