“O”lympics, “O”bamas, “O”prah–Too Many Zeroes!

Not even close!  Floating the bid for the 2016 Olympics, Chicago’s balloon went down faster than the Hindenburg on Friday finishing 4th out of 4.  And why does this come as a shock?  There wasn’t overwhelming public support for hosting  the Olympics.   45% of Chicagoans believed that with the recent economic downturn,Chicago’s and Illinois’ propensity for corruption,  the seizure mentality that accompanies implementing security for such events, and the public funds that would inevitably be allocated, the project wasn’t worth it.

What are the lessons to be learned from the O’s bid for the Olympics?

1.  Celebrity isn’t everything.  The opportunity for a photo op for this trio became a photo oops!   Reflection is a good thing for the Bible warns us of getting too “puffed” up.

2.  Perception is everything.  Global appeal doesn’t cover up global apprehension caused by the Obama Administration playing chicken little since January of this year.  You can’t feed the mass media with a litany of doom and gloom and then in September start singing ‘Happy Days Are Here Again’ or in this case “Chicago, Chicago that toddlin town.”  Don’t count on the rays of hope to shine through verbal brush strokes of gray.

3.  The IOC considered Rio de Janeiro, often referred to as the Murder Capital of the Western Hemisphere, to be a better bet than the good ole USA.

But As For Me…

Don’t get me wrong, there is a way that Chicago has snatched victory from defeat.  Chicago citizens will be able to watch the Olympics without worry about traffic jams, security, and the huge tab that comes with hosting the Olympics, not to mention the architectural edifices that hold little or no interest, or use by the public once the games are over.

The only question left is:   Who’s going to pick-up the check for the use of  Air Force One for this junket?

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Tagged as: 2016 Olympics, Chicago's Bid for Olympics, Economy, Obama, Oprah, Public Funds