Chicago Residents Split About Wanting To Land Olympics
Enthusiasm in Chicago for the '16 Games "is nearly matched with dread," according to Chris Bury of ABC News. A recent Chicago Tribune survey noted that almost half of city residents polled "say they are opposed" to landing the Games. Bury: "The already overcrowded transit system is a big concern, so is the city's financial health" ("World News," ABC, 9/28). In Chicago, Richard Roeper notes local polls indicate that "about half of us want the Games and half of us are chanting, 'Rio, Rio, Rio!'" For every comment about "how great it would be for the city, there's another voice saying we'd be in for seven years of cost overruns, misplaced priorities, construction hassles, allegations of corruption, etc." (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/29). Lake Forest College Economics Prof & Int'l Association of Sports Economists President Robert Baade said it is "typical for the American bids for the Games to be financed privately." Baade: "Whether or not that can happen in this particular case we're all waiting to see. ... Undoubtedly given the history of cost overruns, given some exaggeration of what it is that occurs in the way of benefit, it's likely to be the case that the cost will outstrip revenues and public financing of some sort will undoubtedly occur" ("The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer," PBS, 9/28). SportsCorp President Marc Ganis said, "People just have to be realistic about the costs. The benefits are going to be really significant. Unless this thing gets woefully out of control in terms of the costs, ultimately it'll turn out to be an excellent proposition for Chicago. But they've got to keep the costs down" ("Street Signs," CNBC, 9/28).
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Longtime Chicago Ad Creative Launches Web
Site Promoting Rio's Bid To Land 2016 Games |
BRAZILIAN STAKE: In Chicago, Lewis Lazare reports longtime Chicago-based ad exec Kevin Lynch has created ChicagoansForRio.com, the "controversial Chicago Olympic bid naysayer Web site." The site, "touting Chicago's chief Olympic bid rival" Rio de Janeiro, went live on September 20 and has been the "subject of numerous media reports in recent days." Lynch is Senior VP & Creative Lead at Proximity, the digital advertising arm of Energy BBDO, Chicago, and he has stressed that the site is "his own project, in no way connected to Energy BBDO." Energy BBDO President Tonise Paul: "All I have to say is this agency backs the Chicago bid, and as Kevin's employer, I would have vigorously argued against his creating the Web site" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/29). Lynch said that he "enlisted design and programming friends who donated their time, and he paid $50 for the Web site hosting." He added, "If we don't get the bid, and you can blame it on a one-page Web site, I would suggest the bid wasn't so strong after all" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/29).
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY: USA TODAY's Mike Lopresti writes Chicago this week "should have the nation behind it." For a host country, the Olympics "can mean headaches, turmoil, disputes -- but it's a pretty good gig, anyway." Lopresti: "Amid the disagreement and controversy, there is still a unifying process that an Olympic city inevitably lives through. Nobody wants to be a lousy host" (USA TODAY, 9/29).
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