Is The End Of The Olympics In Sight?

[Tugg Speedman]

Olympic officials will convene June 9 to debate both locations. The IOC's decision will be announced in September.

The problem is only LA and Paris want the 2024 games and Paris said it will not bid in 2028.  So, if LA gets 2024, the fear is no one wants the 2028 games and the Olympic Era is over.

So they are talking about the deal below just to keep the Olympic Era alive.

The average cost of the games in $9 billion and the average cost over-run is 150%

Olympic Committee Favors Paris in 2024
An agreement taking shape would put the Summer Games in Paris in 2024, with Los Angeles to follow in 2028
By Matthew Futterman
May 30, 2017 2:59 p.m. ET

https://www.wsj.com/articles/olympic-committee-favors-paris-in-2024-1496170751?utm_content=buffercb4c6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

The International Olympic Committee is progressing toward an agreement that would give Paris the Summer Olympics in 2024 and Los Angeles the event four years later, according to people familiar with the matter.

[Tugg Speedman]

Why is the Olympic era dying, Rio took a huge financial hit for the games.  And here are the venues just six months after the games ended.

Thank god Chicago did not get these games!

http://www.businessinsider.com/rio-olympic-venues-are-abandoned-just-6-months-after-games-2017-2/#the-olympic-golf-course-took-three-years-to-make-and-drew-much-ire-because-it-was-built-in-a-national-wildlife-reserve-now-its-run-down-and-empty-1

Aquatic Center



The Olympic golf course took three years to make and drew much ire because it was built in a national wildlife reserve. Now it's run-down and empty.


The Olympic Village, too, is a ghost town.



One practice pool has turned orange, and the structure next to it is quite literally falling apart.





The famed Maracana Stadium has gone to waste.

[jficke13]

The Olympics won't end, but the era of hosting in a new city on a new continent, and building new infrastructure/facilities for each Olympiad is approaching its end. I think some combination of establishing a core 4 or 5 cities that rotate each Olympiad is more likely than the games ending entirely.

There are dozens of articles you can find and then copy/paste into the thread where this idea has been explored.

Of course, this will come with much wailing and gnashing of teeth as the biannual graft convention is broken.

[Galway Eagle]

How much building would chicago have needed to do? I know that the olympics generally screw over cities but between the multitude of universities and pro stadiums I feel like it we would've had a pretty good existing infrastructure for them

[GGGG]

I think the deal would give the IOC plenty of time to figure out the best way for cities / countries to manage the games starting in 2032. 

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

How much building would chicago have needed to do? I know that the olympics generally screw over cities but between the multitude of universities and pro stadiums I feel like it we would've had a pretty good existing infrastructure for them

If i remember correctly, Grant park as we know it would have been razed for a larger stadium, due to Soldier field not being large enough (61,500). That's a lot of green space gone.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

If i remember correctly, Grant park as we know it would have been razed for a larger stadium, due to Soldier field not being large enough (61,500). That's a lot of green space gone.

I did not remember correctly. It would have been in Washington park, the initial plan was Grant park.

[wadesworld]

Can I buy Olympic stock?

[warriorchick]

If i remember correctly, Grant park as we know it would have been razed for a larger stadium, due to Soldier field not being large enough (61,500). That's a lot of green space gone.

It wasn't big enough because the IOC said it wasn't big enough. If the IOC lowered their expectations of having huge, state-of-the-art facilities for every venue, Chicago would be fine, especially if they considered Milwaukee venues as well.

[GooooMarquette]

One significant issue IMHO is that the Olympics have gotten too big.  Just for comparison sake, there were 306 events and over 11,000 athletes in Rio in 2016, and 198 events and 6,000 athletes in Montreal in 1976.  That leads to many more venues to build, and a dramatic increase athletes and fans to move around, accommodate and protect. 

[GGGG]

One significant issue IMHO is that the Olympics have gotten too big.  Just for comparison sake, there were 306 events and over 11,000 athletes in Rio in 2016, and 198 events and 6,000 athletes in Montreal in 1976.  That leads to many more venues to build, and a dramatic increase athletes and fans to move around, accommodate and protect. 

Out of curiosity, are there more venues to build or are they just hosting more events in those venues? 

[Tugg Speedman]

If i remember correctly, Grant park as we know it would have been razed for a larger stadium, due to Soldier field not being large enough (61,500). That's a lot of green space gone.

100,000 seat stadium, costing $366 million, in Washington Park for opening/closing ceremonies and Athletics

$75 million for a 15,000 seat Tennis Stadium and 20 outer courts with seating at Waveland Clock Tower.

$250 million to tear up the Lincon Park lagoon so it can be made for whitewater rafting.

$60 million for a massive breakfront on the lake so they could have still water for the rowing events in Monroe Harbor.

$1.1 billion for the Olympic village at the near south side at the IC tracks

Northern Island torn up to remake for BMX

Unknown costs for a stadium to host Beach Volleyball at Oak Street.

Assume the actual costs were double the made up guesses above.

And don't forget the opportunity costs.  For instance, Oak Street Beach, Lincoln Park and most of Washington Park would be closed for at least a year for construction.  Monroe Harbor can host 825 boats from 25 feet to 80 feet.  Those boat owners would have to vacate for at least a year for construction and the games.  That would create chaos in that community. 

Many more things like this if the Olympics happened.

----------

Finally, the argument that along with all this wasteful spending is a revamp of infrastructures like transportation and streets.  By now it should be established that every Olympic venue makes this claim and every Olympic fails to deliver on this in a cost effective manner.

[Tugg Speedman]

The Olympics won't end, but the era of hosting in a new city on a new continent, and building new infrastructure/facilities for each Olympiad is approaching its end. I think some combination of establishing a core 4 or 5 cities that rotate each Olympiad is more likely than the games ending entirely.

There are dozens of articles you can find and then copy/paste into the thread where this idea has been explored.

Of course, this will come with much wailing and gnashing of teeth as the biannual graft convention is broken.

Yes, the problems of hosting the Olympics are easy to fix to ensure they continue.  The problem is the IOC is so corrupt and so entitled to the corruption that they will not change becuase what you suggest means less corruption/graft.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Yet, Chicago is still paying for the missed bid.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-olympics-chicago-2016-met-20160715-story.html

[jficke13]

Yes, the problems of hosting the Olympics are easy to fix to ensure they continue.  The problem is the IOC is so corrupt and so entitled to the corruption that they will not change becuase what you suggest means less corruption/graft.

So then the end of the Olympics is not in sight?

Are you saying that a scenario where zero cities bid/agree to host due to costs is coming, but when faced with that the IOC will decide to not put the Olympics on at all?

As fewer and fewer cities bid, the IOC's bargaining position will continue to weaken. As it weakens, the IOC will be forced into adapting the system into something different than is currently used. That something may not be a rotating 4 cities, but when faced with choosing between a 100% reduction in their graft or [any other percentage lower than 100%], the IOC will opt for choice where they still get something.

[Tugg Speedman]

So then the end of the Olympics is not in sight?

Are you saying that a scenario where zero cities bid/agree to host due to costs is coming, but when faced with that the IOC will decide to not put the Olympics on at all?

As fewer and fewer cities bid, the IOC's bargaining position will continue to weaken. As it weakens, the IOC will be forced into adapting the system into something different than is currently used. That something may not be a rotating 4 cities, but when faced with choosing between a 100% reduction in their graft or [any other percentage lower than 100%], the IOC will opt for choice where they still get something.

You assume they are reasonable.  Got it

Again, the reason the IOC is looking at award 2024 and 2028 in a package deal is no one will bid of 2028 and still pay the current levels of corruption and meet their unreasonable demands.  They are trying to swing the package deal because they think Paris (2024) and LA (2028) are still stupid enough to pay them at the current rates.

So what about 2032?  If they start cutting back on their demands and graft, the 2024 and 2028 winners will want similar breaks. 

Take away enough of the corruption and the other corrupt sports organization like the IAAF (track and field governing body) will get mad because they will not get their payola.  They might band together with other corrupt organizations like FIFA (soccer) and the WBA (Boxing) the UCI (cycling) along with many others, and offer their own Olympics cutting out the IOC altogether.

The point is the IOC has built a huge bureaucracy that needs to be fed.  This is not one or two reasonable people that know they are getting too much and will back off to keep the gravy train going.  If they cut back, others down the line have to take less.  They will not.  They will get mad at the IOC for giving them less and may seek to cut them out.

If you think of the IOC as more like a drug cartel than reasonable businesspeople, it will make more sense.

[GooooMarquette]

Out of curiosity, are there more venues to build or are they just hosting more events in those venues?

I don't know the total numbers of venues. 

I suspect there is some duplicate use...but you still have more fans and athletes to accommodate, protect and move around.

[GB Warrior]

Off topic, yet seemingly relevant:       https://www.google.com/amp/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/40155829

[jficke13]

You assume they are reasonable.  Got it

Again, the reason the IOC is looking at award 2024 and 2028 in a package deal is no one will bid of 2028 and still pay the current levels of corruption and meet their unreasonable demands.  They are trying to swing the package deal because they think Paris (2024) and LA (2028) are still stupid enough to pay them at the current rates.

So what about 2032?  If they start cutting back on their demands and graft, the 2024 and 2028 winners will want similar breaks. 

Take away enough of the corruption and the other corrupt sports organization like the IAAF (track and field governing body) will get mad because they will not get their payola.  They might band together with other corrupt organizations like FIFA (soccer) and the WBA (Boxing) the UCI (cycling) along with many others, and offer their own Olympics cutting out the IOC altogether.

The point is the IOC has built a huge bureaucracy that needs to be fed.  This is not one or two reasonable people that know they are getting too much and will back off to keep the gravy train going.  If they cut back, others down the line have to take less.  They will not.  They will get mad at the IOC for giving them less and may seek to cut them out.

If you think of the IOC as more like a drug cartel than reasonable businesspeople, it will make more sense.

Okay, so you don't think the end of the Olympics is in sight. This was just all sound and fury (and ruins porn) signifying nothing. Got it.

[Tugg Speedman]

Off topic, yet seemingly relevant:       https://www.google.com/amp/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/40155829

This applies more to the World Cup because that is being held in Qatar in 2022.

http://www.espnfc.com/blog/fifa/243/post/3138976/fifa-issues-response-after-nations-cut-ties-with-world-cup-2022-host-qatar
FIFA issued a short statement on Monday saying it spoke with "the Qatar 2022 Local Organising Committee and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy handling matters relating to the 2022 FIFA World Cup."

FIFA added: "We have no further comments for the time being."

[PBRme]

It wasn't big enough because the IOC said it wasn't big enough. If the IOC lowered their expectations of having huge, state-of-the-art facilities for every venue, Chicago would be fine, especially if they considered Milwaukee venues as well.

If you add UW Madison and Milwaukee venues it would be a cake walk.  Other than the 100,000 seat stadium

[GB Warrior]

If you add UW Madison and Milwaukee venues it would be a cake walk.  Other than the 100,000 seat stadium

Wasn't Madison rumored to be the target site for cycling?

[Tugg Speedman]

If you add UW Madison and Milwaukee venues it would be a cake walk.  Other than the 100,000 seat stadium

The IOC awards the Olympics to cities, not countries or regions.  They want all the venues close to each other to give the city an "Olympic feel."  So this will not fly with the IOC.

The exception is soccer.  That can be country wide and Camp Randall (along with ND stadium, Giants stadium in NY, The Linc in Philly and the Rose Bowl in CA) were on the lists to host soccer.

Oh, and the corrupt IOC will not allow corporate names.  So Citi Field in NY (Giant/Jets home field) would have to be named "New York Field." to host an Olympic event.  That means physically removing every Citi Field sign so the IOC can sell their own naming rights,

The same was true of Wrigley (baseball and softball would have been added).  The iconic Wrigley sign would have to be physically removed so the IOC can sell their own sponsorship in its place.  That means the sign would have been removed for most of the season and the Cubs would have had a month to 6 weeks long road trip in addition to playing home games in Milwaukee or St. Louis.  Would they have won the world series under these constraints last year?

[GB Warrior]

The IOC awards the Olympics to cities, not countries or regions.  They want all the venues close to each other to give the city an "Olympic feel."  So this will not fly with the IOC.

The exception is soccer.  That can be country wide and Camp Randall (along with ND stadium, Giants stadium in NY, The Linc in Philly and the Rose Bowl in CA) were on the lists to host soccer.

Oh, and the corrupt IOC will not allow corporate names.  So Citi Field in NY (Giant/Jets home field) would have to be named "New York Field." to host an Olympic event.  That means physically removing every Citi Field sign so the IOC can sell their own naming rights,

The same was true of Wrigley (baseball and softball would have been added).  The iconic Wrigley sign would have to be physically removed so the IOC can sell their own sponsorship in its place.  That means the sign would have been removed for most of the season and the Cubs would have had a month to 6 weeks long road trip in addition to playing home games in Milwaukee or St. Louis.  Would they have won the world series under these constraints last year?

Well they wouldn't have had Bud Selig to make them feel right at home

[Spotcheck Billy]

Or they could just drape the signage with say, black curtains like the NCAA does to all of the beer advertising at the Bradley Center during the tournaments.