2024 Paris Olympics

[dgies9156]

Weren't you in Lincolnshire that whole time before you recently started renting in the city?

Libertyville.

I take a metropolitan view of a city.

[tower912]

Libertyville.

I take a metropolitan view of a city.

By that standard, you are still in suburban Chicago.

[dgies9156]

By that standard, you are still in suburban Chicago.

However you want to look at it. Doesn't matter to me.

[Galway Eagle]

Libertyville.

I take a metropolitan view of a city.

Got it, implication I was trying to make was being in a exurb did you expect a significant life/infrastructure improvement that made you feel like it was worth turning down the Olympics altogether? Or is it just a greater metropolitan area pride thing? Because I can't imagine the metra was going to be allocated much money if any for improvements given the state of the L, 94 was was already getting redone. There was talk of using NIU's facilities which wouldn't have impacted north suburbs, and tourism impact was probably going to be 99% in the city proper.

So was just trying to get an idea of why losing the bid seemed to strike so close to your heart.

[The Sultan]

After 2028, I think it's going to be awhile before the summer games return to the US. 2032 is set for Brisbaine, but there are a bunch of bidders for the 2036 and 2040 games in Asia and Europe.

[Not all scoop users are created equal apparently]

I was a volunteer with the Olympic bid committee in Chicago, doing things like passing out stuff at events, stuffing envelopes, helping out at different athletic competitions the city was hosting...I actually helped with hospitality when the IOC bid committee visited . There was no question we had the best bid, but aside from the Rio corruption, they really wanted to take the games to South America...
That disappointment  has not put me off from watching, because I love seeing the athletes. And it led me to being able to volunteer with the USOC at the Vancouver Olympics, which was great fun.

Stuffing envelopes with what, exactly 

[Pakuni]

Stuffing envelopes with what, exactly 

Inadequate amounts, it would seem.

[Galway Eagle]

Out of curiosity, when you all see an American athlete compete for a different country do you still root for or against them? Take the Swedish pope vaulter or Eileen Gu, or do you feel spurned and root against them? Apathetic?

[tower912]

Apathetic.  The boundaries are blurred so much.  Look at Joel Embiid.   

[Jockey]

Out of curiosity, when you all see an American athlete compete for a different country do you still root for or against them? Take the Swedish pope vaulter or Eileen Gu, or do you feel spurned and root against them? Apathetic?

As Scoopers, we should be able to dictate what country someone represents.


Seriously, I don't care, and furthermore it is none of my business.

[cheebs09]

I cheered for Travis Diener.

[MuggsyB]

Out of curiosity, when you all see an American athlete compete for a different country do you still root for or against them? Take the Swedish pope vaulter or Eileen Gu, or do you feel spurned and root against them? Apathetic?

I root 100% against them Galway. 

[JWags85]

Apathetic.  The boundaries are blurred so much.  Look at Joel Embiid.

Embiid is a bit different IMO.  He chose to represent the country he moved to at 16 as an unknown and where he turned into an international superstar. 

Alternatively, both Eileen Gu and Armand Duplantis were born and raised entirely in the US.  Duplantis is interesting cause not only the above, but his father is a US vaulter too.  But I actually think it's super savvy cause he's a sports icon there and wildly well known whereas he'd be basically invisible in the US, even as a gold medalist.  Sort of the nature of the field sports.  I was super pumped and enjoyed watching him.  Bayou Swedish is also hilarious

Not so keen on Gu, her rushed/abnormal naturalization process and grandfather's CCP connections just made it all seem kind of sketchy and she has made some lame comments about it all too. 

Otherwise, if you have a path to reach your dreams at the Olympics via your family heritage and aren't at a US Olympic level, don't begrudge them at all and think it's awesome.  A win win for both them and their represented country

[lawdog77]

Out of curiosity, when you all see an American athlete compete for a different country do you still root for or against them? Take the Swedish pope vaulter or Eileen Gu, or do you feel spurned and root against them? Apathetic?

I always root for the name on the front of the jersey.

So, in the case of track and field, the name on the front is the person. There are no names on swimming.

In all seriousness, I just want to see greatness.

[warriorchick]

Embiid is a bit different IMO.  He chose to represent the country he moved to at 16 as an unknown and where he turned into an international superstar. 

Alternatively, both Eileen Gu and Armand Duplantis were born and raised entirely in the US.  Duplantis is interesting cause not only the above, but his father is a US vaulter too.  But I actually think it's super savvy cause he's a sports icon there and wildly well known whereas he'd be basically invisible in the US, even as a gold medalist.  Sort of the nature of the field sports.  I was super pumped and enjoyed watching him.  Bayou Swedish is also hilarious

Not so keen on Gu, her rushed/abnormal naturalization process and grandfather's CCP connections just made it all seem kind of sketchy and she has made some lame comments about it all too. 

Otherwise, if you have a path to reach your dreams at the Olympics via your family heritage and aren't at a US Olympic level, don't begrudge them at all and think it's awesome.  A win win for both them and their represented country

You better believe that if I wasn't good enough to make the US Olympic team, but could qualify for another country, I would do it in a hot minute. 

[dgies9156]

Got it, implication I was trying to make was being in a exurb did you expect a significant life/infrastructure improvement that made you feel like it was worth turning down the Olympics altogether? Or is it just a greater metropolitan area pride thing? Because I can't imagine the metra was going to be allocated much money if any for improvements given the state of the L, 94 was was already getting redone. There was talk of using NIU's facilities which wouldn't have impacted north suburbs, and tourism impact was probably going to be 99% in the city proper.

So was just trying to get an idea of why losing the bid seemed to strike so close to your heart.

Brother Eaqle:

There was and is a great deal of pride that I have in being from the Chicago area. I make fun of Chicago's and Illinois' politics regularly but I truly loved every minute I lived here (even in winter because we had access to MU basketball). My love for the region is why we come back every summer. I much wanted the world to see what most of us who know this region of the country see and to learn there's far more to Chicago than Al Capone and crooked politicians.

I also have a great deal of pride in my country and when my President travels to sell my country, I would expect we had a fair chance at winning a bid. The 2016 effort was stacked against Chicago in the way our local Mayoral elections under Richard I were stacked against Republicans. Our city and our President had no chance. I found that offensive.

Living in Libertyville meant nothing as far as Olympic benefit, had Chicago won the bid. The Milwaukee North Metra line would have been a very low priority, unless there were upgrades for Amtrak, which also operates on that line. The negative was that the Olympic mavens required closing of the JFK and DRE express lanes to give them and the Olympics exclusive use. That would have been a horrible nightmare.

[Warriors4ever]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/13/media/paris-olympics-ratings-nbc-peacock-viewership-streaming/index.html#openweb-convo

[Galway Eagle]

Brother Eaqle:

There was and is a great deal of pride that I have in being from the Chicago area. I make fun of Chicago's and Illinois' politics regularly but I truly loved every minute I lived here (even in winter because we had access to MU basketball). My love for the region is why we come back every summer. I much wanted the world to see what most of us who know this region of the country see and to learn there's far more to Chicago than Al Capone and crooked politicians.

I also have a great deal of pride in my country and when my President travels to sell my country, I would expect we had a fair chance at winning a bid. The 2016 effort was stacked against Chicago in the way our local Mayoral elections under Richard I were stacked against Republicans. Our city and our President had no chance. I found that offensive.

Living in Libertyville meant nothing as far as Olympic benefit, had Chicago won the bid. The Milwaukee North Metra line would have been a very low priority, unless there were upgrades for Amtrak, which also operates on that line. The negative was that the Olympic mavens required closing of the JFK and DRE express lanes to give them and the Olympics exclusive use. That would have been a horrible nightmare.

Got it, makes sense was just trying to understand. Pride is the deadly sin that I can most certainly relate to

[wadesworld]

https://x.com/LarryMadowo/status/1823376057581371537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1823376057581371537%7Ctwgr%5Efeb777ec4dd14b46d06c4b940c5c77702a8028b8%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Folympics%2Fletsile-tebogo-botswana-full-stadium-gold-medal-celebration

[tower912]

That is awesome.

[Jockey]

That is awesome.

Yup.

This is he kind of stuff you miss if your only thought is for the US to destroy everyone. Enjoy the competition.

[Scoop Snoop]

Yup.

This is he kind of stuff you miss if your only thought is for the US to destroy everyone. Enjoy the competition.

Ya mean it's not? Well crap....what's the point of it then? Your post is unacceptable and inexcusable, you traitor!

[tower912]

Yup.

This is he kind of stuff you miss if your only thought is for the US to destroy everyone. Enjoy the competition.

When I watch the opening ceremonies (not always), my favorite part is the tiny countries with tiny Olympic teams, 3-4 overjoyed athletes walking into the same arena to the same cheers.  Or, sailing on the same boat.

[Scoop Snoop]

When I watch the opening ceremonies (bot always), my favorite part is the tiny countries with tiny Olympic teams, 3-4 overjoyed athletes walking into the same arena to the same cheers.  Or, sailing on the same boat.

I always like to see the excitement of the athletes in the opening ceremonies, and yes...."the tiny countries with tiny Olympic teams" are so great to see. I also like seeing opposing teams congratulating the winners in the events. They are super serious competitors while the event is going and then salute their opponents who won when the event is over. Classy!

[Warriors4ever]

I also love seeing the countries with the tiny teams walk in, and those for whom just being there is the victory...