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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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 OPINION 
25

Olympic Snub Has Silver Lining for Chicago

Good ideas and sober assessments made during bid should go forward

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(Newser) – Chicago failed in its bid to land the Olympics, but look on the bright side, the Tribune urges: If the city builds on the bright ideas and redevelopment plans designed to sway the IOC, it can have all the benefits with none of the hassle. “Bidding for an Olympiad forced Chicago, its leaders and its citizens, to focus on what works and what doesn't,” the editors write. “It made all of us think to the future.”

There won’t be an “Olympic Village on the site of Michael Reese Hospital. But the city owns that land now and Mayor Richard Daley has promised to develop it into a new neighborhood anyway.” The Olympic bid turned Chicagoans’ eyes towards the necessity of childhood fitness, the problem of transportation infrastructure, and the bright possibilities of public-private partnerships—and that progress needn’t be forgotten. “Be proud, Chicago. You went for gold.”

The Chicago skyline.
The Chicago skyline.   (AP Photo)
The Chicago skyline.
The Chicago skyline.   (AP Photo)
Lake Michigan, with the downtown Chicago skyline as a backdrop.
Lake Michigan, with the downtown Chicago skyline as a backdrop.   (AP Photo)
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It would have been a grand party in our own front yard. But it wasn't to be. It's time to get back to what we do best: See a problem. Solve a problem. Make a buck. - Chicago Tribune

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25 comments
VIEWING:
 
Rob
Oct 2, 09 1:28 PM CDT
The problem is the political chits that were wasted by Obama on the international stage, not what Chicago is going to do with the acquired Michael Reese Hospital site. Reply
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-2
IN RESPONSE:
Doctor_Zaius
Oct 2, 09 1:36 PM CDT
Every country in the running sent their chief executive to bid for the Olympics. Why do you hate America?
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
Yourself
Oct 2, 09 1:41 PM CDT
seriously, it had NOTHING to do with Obama going or not. The idea of the olympics is to unite the world, and uniting the world needs to include South America. This is the first time the games are going to be there, and Rio is an incredible city, from it's architecture, to it's people, including it's culture and heritage. I'm sad Chicago didn't get it, but this article is a perfect reminder for Chicagoans that they have the chance of a lifetime to transform a metropolis into something new. Leave the politics out of it, and maybe, just maybe you can see the silver lining mentioned above.
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
Forderon
Oct 2, 09 1:44 PM CDT
Rob, you are reaching here. There are better things to criticize Obama for.
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
Spudsy
Oct 2, 09 1:46 PM CDT
"The problem is the political chits that were wasted by Obama" - Five hours in Copenhagen is not wasting political chits. Six years in Iraq is wasting political chits. And wasting 4000 American heroes lives. But they weren't Cheney's, George's, Rush's, Sean's. or your kids lives so you don't care about that.
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+4

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