The Washington Post recently reported that San Francisco and Washington, D.C.(big surprise) were the leaders when the USOC cuts the list of U.S. cities from four to two in September (for the possible U.S. representative for the 2012 Olympics). My question is, did we (everyday Houstonians) really care about even getting the games? I have many friends who were ambivalent or did not even want the games. Personally, down deep inside, I was hoping for a miracle. I wanted Houston to surprise the world by getting the games(it was probably my best chance of actually going to an Olympics*sniff*). What are your thoughts about getting the games? Do you care/not care about getting 'em?
As much as I would like to, I think it would be very hard to get the Olympics considering the recent games we have hosted in 1984, 1996, and 2002. Why would the IOC choose the USA again in 2012 over Rome, Paris, etc? But I can hope for a miracle also!
I did. It was a great opportunity for Houston. For growth and prosperity. It would give us more a global presences. If done correctly [yea. . .like any gov can do something correctly ] it would have been quite a boon for Houston. More pressure to fix the d*mn streets and maybe even the d*mn monorail. Rocket River
Not to mention the fact that despite the high cost of hosting an Olympics, the host towns and the areas around them usually net billions.
I am not to sure of this Monorail that you speak of, I have heard that Ogdenville's is a piece of crap. THE MONORAIL SONG Lyle Langley: I've sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook. And, by gum, it put them on the map. Well, sir, there's nothing on earth like a genuine, bona fide, electrified, six-car monorail. What'd I say? Flanders: Monorail! Langley: What's it called? Patty and Selma: Monorail. (Crowd softly chants "monorail" over and over) Ms. Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud. Langley: It glides as softly as a cloud. Apu: Is there a chance the track could bend? Langley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend. Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs? Langley: You'll be given cushy jobs. Grampa: Were you sent here by the devil? Langley: No good sir, I'm on the level. Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can. Langley: Take my pen knife, my good man. (Crowd stops chanting "monorail") I swear it's Springfield's only choice! Throw up your hands and raise your voice! Crowd: Monorail! Langley: What's it called? Crowd: Monorail! Langley: Once again! Crowd: Monorail! Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken. Bart: Sorry, mom, the crowd has spoken. Crowd: Monorail...Monorail...Monorail! Monorail! Homer: Mono..d'oh!
I've read quite a bit on this and had the opportunity to hear from some of the local players in the situation. The consensus is that Houston has the best bid of the bunch by a fairly decent margin. The number and quality of venues along with the proximity to one another blows away the other bids. The problem is that, as someone mentioned, the USOC may feel like it is difficult to promote Houston against Paris, London, etc. My question to them is... Lake Placid? Salt Lake City? Nagano? Anyway, the Post is, of course, going to rate DC up there. I've always heard that San Francisco was the favorite and would probably have gotten the bid fairly easily if it weren't for the fact that its venues are spread out all over northern California.
it seems USOC among others are discrediting the washington post report... i wonder if the washington post stories are actually true or just biased because their city is involved.. Atlanta got the games in 1996.... do they have more appeal than we do?
I wanted the games What does Rome have to offer that Houston doesn't have? But looking at the converse of the previous question, we have A LOT of Arena's, probabaly more Hotels. World culture. What about San Fran? Gays? Clothes? Never thoght of San Fran as a huge city with lots of arena's but I may be wrong.
I don't see why everyone is talking in the past tense. If you want the Olympics, you shouldn't be saying you wanted them, because Houston is still very much in the running. Think of it like an NBA trade rumor - because, as of now, that's all the article is...a rumor.
I want the Olympics! I have a Houston 2012 sticker on my car right now!! In terms of economic development and real investment into infrastructure, you can't beat the Olympics. Atlanta got not only state and city funds poured into infrastructure...they had federal funds and funds from private corporations poured in as well! That's new infrastructure that will likely be around 40 years from now. It would provide a real kick in the pants...areas would be cleaned up...new mass transit options would be possible with costs spread out a bit more. The economic impact is HUGE! I definitely want that Games...am thinking about getting involved in the effort to bring them here...though, I really don't have a ton of spare time right now! From what I've heard...SF's bid is seen largely as smoke and mirrors...and NY's isn't very different. Ultimately, weather seems to be the concern for Houston. Why? So many of the events are indoors! I guarantee you, we are far less likely to have weather calamaties affecting the games indoors than SF is with outdoor games. Plus...the very powerful Track and Field lobby is very supportive of Houston's bid, because they like the idea of track and field inside the Dome. And if you think the weather is much better in Washington DC than Houston in the summertime...you're just wrong! also...keep in mind...the articles running around the country before the field of cities was narrowed to 4 said that Houston didn't have a chance....they rated Dallas ahead of Houston. We're still playing? Where's big d?
I want to be able to say that I lived in a city where the Olympics were held. The world's eyes will be focused on Houston. Now if we just have some sort of landmark...does Yao Ming count?
Thanks for brightening my day Is it me .. or when houstonians do something .. their is no half measures Texans . . Olympics . . Tennis Rocket River
Thank you! Few people outside of Houston give it a chance. NY, SF and DC are all better tourist traps, I admit; but we've put together a great bid. We'll know in September what's what.
I want the Olympics so I can rent my house (and the office behind my house) out to visitors for $10,000 per week. Now accepting advance reservations.
I used to not want the Olympics because I'd rather not have the whole city turned upside-down by a million visitors. Clogging the highways, dumping their trash and being annoying generally. Plus, I don't particularly care for the Olympics themselves. But, my opinion has radically changed now that I have bought property. I'll have a house not too far from the proposed site for Olympic Village. So, they'll have to repave the streets, fix the drainage, tear down the condemned buildings and shotgun shacks, build some shiny new buildings and everything else that goes into hosting the Olympics. All this is essentially money in my pocket as my real estate increases in value.
Without proper mass transportation, it would be a nightmare for these visitors to get around in this heat. I'm glad we're not getting them... the city should've done mass light rail many, many moons ago. One freakin' light rail line from downtown to the dome!? that's bunk. it's should be a mass light rail system incorporating all the outlying areas and bring them into town, imagine light rail along most major freeways, 290, I-10, I-45, US-59 all spiderwebbing into town, then if you needed to get somewhere where light rail didn't go, then take the bus or ride your bike. Houston is pathetic when it comes to mass transportation. There's no reason other than the oil industry that Houston never adopted rail/subway systems... The oil industry promotes driving your car, with a decent mass transit system, less car driving would ensue and the oil industry couldn't have that...
The boon to Houston would be enormous. Sure, during the Olympics, Houston would be super crazy, super trafficky, and super crowded, but that's only for a short period of time. The publicity and funds generated by the Games would be sooooo worth it. Plus, we'd get to rub Dallas' face in it for all eternity! Hmmmm. The widening of I-10 is scheduled to be completed in 2012. Any coincidence? (Too bad they tore up a perfectly good railroad track, though...) Only downside to the Games I see is dealing with a hyped-up, out-of-control Mattress Mac. I guess we could lock him up in a storage facility for 10 years...
