Olympics 2016: Who ya got? .... It's RIO, NOT CHICAGO!

Re: Olympics 2016: Who ya got?

I'm really hoping it's Chicago. I have "cover an Olympic Games" as a career goal, Granted, that ladder of upward mobility that led to that goal really doesn't exist anymore, but it would be a lot easier, to at least attend if they take place in Chicago (less than eight hours drive).

 

Re: Olympics 2016: Who ya got?

From a spectator point of view, I didn't have any problems with Atlanta at all. Of course, the soccer was played less than a mile from my house in Athens.

When I did go to Atlanta for some of the track and field, I never had any problems getting around. I think all the locals were so scared of traffic nightmares that they took Marta, making it easy for the rest of us to drive right up to a lot of the events.

 

Re: Olympics 2016: Who ya got?

Brazil does have the 2014 World Cup, so they'll have some experience with hosting a major event. Whether the Cup will work for or against them, I'm not sure. But I guess Atlanta got the games two years after the USA had the Cup, so there's precedent there.

 

Re: Olympics 2016: Who ya got?

Exactly what tourists deserve.

If they hold any of the events at the Rosemont Horizon, I'm all for it. If they hold all the events downtown, they might as well be having the Games in Rio.

 

Re: Olympics 2016: Who ya got?

Anyone who has tried to get from OHare to downtown on any given day has to be wondering how a city with one highway--three lanes--can handle the Olympics. 3 am on a Tuesday, bumper-to-bumper traffic.

But if it IS Chicago....we can all stay at my mother's house.

 

Re: Olympics 2016: Who ya got?

Some of the locals who know all the north-south shortcuts could probably make a killing for a few weeks with a taxi service.

 

Re: Olympics 2016: Who ya got?

I remember seeing something that some of the soccer games will be played in the new Gopher stadium in Minneapolis.

Aren't some soccer fans rather, well, enthusiastic? Does this spill over into the Olympic soccer games?

No offense to the kind souls over on the soccer thread.

 

Re: Olympics 2016: Who ya got?

The only way the Olympics is work is to shut down business as usual in a city and make it a three-week party. Barcelona and Sydney did this. Atlanta did not. Moddy, you're right, Sydney was unbelievable. What a city. But Barcelona was pretty good, too.

 

Re: Olympics 2016: Who ya got?

Tolls alone would make a killing for Chicago.

 

Re: Olympics 2016: Who ya got?

Yup. Especially all those ipass-less rental cars.