Should Chicago host the 2016 Summer Games?

By Pepe Lozano
People's Weekly World

CHICAGO – For the last several days, 13 members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have been touring this city and getting to know its landscape. Chicago is being evaluated as the potential host city for the 2016 Summer Games and Mayor Richard Daley has been pulling out the red carpet for commission members.

But not all are happy that Chicago is in the running, and many feel bringing the Olympics to Chicago is not what working families here need.

Francesca Rodriquez is a community organizer with No Games Chicago and helped coordinate a protest against the Olympics at Chicago’s Federal Plaza April 2nd.

Rodriquez said she is disappointed in how much corporate money is being raised for the Olympics.

“When corporate powers want to pull their money together to throw a big party, don’t let it affect our communities negatively,” said Rodriquez. “Chicago Public Schools is running a $475 million deficit right now,” she added. “The priorities in the city are messed up and money being spent on the Olympics could be better used.”

According to Rodriquez’s group, Mayor Daley has a record of over-budgeting big projects at the expense of taxpayer dollars.

“People are not aware how the Olympics will affect their neighborhoods,” said Rodriquez.

Anna Arguello was at the rally with her children. “As a taxpayer and a single mother I’m already paying too much,” she said. She feels money should be invested in preventing crime and go toward improving Chicago schools, not the Olympics.

Brandon Mitchell is a University of Chicago graduate student. Mitchell agrees with Arguello and foresees many low-income residents being displaced from their communities with the construction of Olympic stadiums on the city’s Southside.

“A lot of host cities really don’t make a profit,” said Mitchell. “Hopefully, if the Olympics do come to Chicago than the city will be forced to improve our public transit,” he said.

Many at the No Games rally feel the city should be spending money to patch up potholes, improve public education, support free health care services and better hospitals and improve Chicago’s public transit system.

Other groups want Mayor Daley to give assurances in writing that include the creation of jobs and long-term policy solutions that meet people’s basic needs throughout the city if the Olympics come to Chicago.

The IOC is expected to make a decision next October after visiting the remaining finalist cities – Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid.

However not every one is against the Olympics coming to Chicago.

One woman asked that her name not be revealed, because she currently works for the 2016 committee to bring the Olympics to Chicago.

“I have a different opinion,” she said at the rally. Having the Olympics in Chicago will bring so much revenue to the city and the sports stadiums could cause youth throughout the city to get involved in sports programs, the woman said.

“In nine years this city could be transformed into the most fantastic display of world athletic competition,” she said. “The U.S. is the most powerful nation in the world and Chicago is in the heart of the country. On a global spectrum it’s really important and with Obama as our president that alone could say a lot to the world,” she said.

Andrew Freeman is a college student and said he enjoys sports and watching the Olympics. He was at the rally and does not think having the Olympics in Chicago is a good idea.

“Hey, I like the Olympics. If Mayor Daley had our best interests at heart than it would be great, but unfortunately he doesn’t,” he said.
plozano@pww.org