2024 Olympics In Orlando?

[firmbizzle]

Originally Posted by Crane's Rooster

For our region to take a Trillion dollar undertaking, yes that's Trillion with a "T" is too much at this point. Granted we would have help from the USOC and other state and national organizations it's just a little much to be taking on when we have other things on our plate. I won't rule out a later bid when our infrastructure is improved, primarily mass transit and I-4 overhaul, I don't think a 2024 bid would be the best course of action for us now. I would however support any US bid to bring the Olympics back, I was disappointed when Chicago lost their 2020 bid.

We would get help from the USOC, state and feds. Then if we were still short, the feds would bail us out. This is a way of getting a Trillion dollars worth of infrastructure for almost nothing. If we don't take this opportunity, it will take 100 years to build the same infrastructure. This would be a win for everybody (except maybe the America tax payer).

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by firmbizzle

We would get help from the USOC, state and feds. Then if we were still short, the feds would bail us out. This is a way of getting a Trillion dollars worth of infrastructure for almost nothing. If we don't take this opportunity, it will take 100 years to build the same infrastructure. This would be a win for everybody (except maybe the America tax payer).

Maybe if in the longest of odds all of the big cities on the list backed out. Otherwise it would take quite a bit of pixie dust to make that happen.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by maplelady

Crane's Rooster , "big and expensive" fits orlando to a tee.

Walt Disney himself was the Head of Peagantry for the 1960 Olympics in Squaw valley, so maybe WDW would want to participate for legacy reasons.

Disney has a long history of participating in various ways with the Olympics. They sent an engineering team to help with traffic issues and signage before the LA Olympics.

Here's an interesting article that shows how Disney would be more than happy to pony up some major coin to bring the Olympics to Orlando. Disney Considering Major Olympics Sponsorship | Adweek

[Crane's Rooster]

If Disney were in I would be in.

[RuFFy08]

An Orlando Olympics may prove to be cost prohibitive. Also, the Olympics themselves aren't the money makers. The money maker of an Olympics is a city's increased profile on an international scale, improved infrastructure and increased tourism for years to come. Important for an olympics is like 40k hotel rooms, quality and viable public transit, proximity of sporting events and an 80k+ stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies. Also, that stadium should be able to fit track and field events so football stadiums don't tend to be good choices for Olympic Stadiums because their fields are too small. The city also has to have international appeal, served by a high capacity international airport with a developed network. And I'm talking international appeal to like Cambodia or Vietnam or other off the wall destinations. In addition to that you'd need 200k plus volunteers, housing for 10-15k athletes in Olympic Villages and be able to handle about a million guests sustained for two weeks. Also important to a bid are a high backing of the populace, usually over 80 but closer to 90%. And perhaps the most important is the story. What compelling story can Orlando bring to the Olympic movement to touch humanity and move the Olympics forward. Take the story of Istanbul. Istanbul is modern day Constantinople, which at one time was the capital of the Roman Empire. Today, Istanbul is primarily Muslim. It straddles 2 continents and brings large swaths of the world together. The story of that city is one humans need to see. Tokyo until now has had no story line and it's location relative to the areas devastated to the Tsunami's keep make it hard to tie their bid to that story. But the Empire of Japan is one, and it just might. Who knows. I think had NYC been able to secure a Westside Stadium it's story was written too. But NYC dropped the ball and 2 time Olympic Host London was a sure and safe bet. It's not hard to see why Paris and London remained after NYC couldn't pull through. Chicago, that city was too self interested. It was a technically sound bid but that story almost unilaterally favored Chicago. In almost every way Chicago's bid went against what the Olympic Movement stood for but poor little old Rio de Janeiro capitalized. Rio introduced a new continent to the movement. It brought flavor Chicago just couldn't bring. It's an emerging economy, a focal point of the Southern Hemisphere. People think Brazilian and they think sexuality, sultry, exotic. Chicago, not so much. It just didn't spark international curiosity. So, perhaps equally as important to being able to host technically is what is Orlando's story? How does Orlando fit into the Olympic Movement? How does Orlando's story align with significant recent events that reflect humanity? How does Orlando's story make it one that the world need to see and experience?

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by RuFFy08

Chicago, that city was too self interested. It was a technically sound bid but that story almost unilaterally favored Chicago. In almost every way Chicago's bid went against what the Olympic Movement stood for but poor little old Rio de Janeiro capitalized. Rio introduced a new continent to the movement. It brought flavor Chicago just couldn't bring. It's an emerging economy, a focal point of the Southern Hemisphere. People think Brazilian and they think sexuality, sultry, exotic. Chicago, not so much. It just didn't spark international curiosity. So, perhaps equally as important to being able to host technically is what is Orlando's story? How does Orlando fit into the Olympic Movement? How does Orlando's story align with significant recent events that reflect humanity? How does Orlando's story make it one that the world need to see and experience?

Rio de Janeiro was probably in the driver's seat all along. South America was long overdue for a host site and it was pre-destined in my opinion. Orlando doesn't really have a story yet as it's very much cart before the horse in terms of any kind of infrastructure, history or "other recent events that reflect humanity" besides perhaps the trials of George Zimmerman and Casey Anthony. The US Olympic Committee sent letters to the Mayors of the 25 largest cities/metro areas and to 10 others that had expressed interest in the past so it was by no means an elite group as of yet and as the 26th largest MSA neighboring the 18th largest MSA (Tampa Bay)....kind of a requirement. Two other cities in Florida alone (Jacksonville and Miami) received the same letter and one can see it would be a losing battle versus Miami (not to mention a dozen other cities) in terms of having a favorable identity internationally, it's multiculturalism and existing infrastructure.

[totsuka]

I hope not unless there is a massive tax on Disney, Universal, big businesses etc....let them pay for it.

[Crane's Rooster]

I worry about the Rio Olympics given all the recent protests and reports that security for the games will be problamatic. I hope there is a plan B just in case.

[RuFFy08]

I've convinced myself that the Rio Olympics will be catastrophic in costs and that the story of Los Angeles will prevail in 2024. That story is costs. It's been Los Angeles' gold medal story twice and the city maintains it's ability to host an Olympic Games tomorrow if it wanted, in all new faucilities since 1984. No better way to increase the USOC's leverage and share of the Olympic Coffers and fend off the consessions they just gave the IOC than to put forward a bid that has already existing infrastructure and new infrastructure already being paid for by taxpayers. The focus could literally be all on the athletes, reimaging the movement, and using Hollywood to reach a completely new generation of Olympians. If Tokyo is selected for 2020 it can stave that off a bit, but if Istanbul gains the right, the 20 billion price tag is going to sting any city that consideres hosting the games. And I couldn't say why, but I can easily see an Istanbul bid doubling, and just about every city who has had the priviledge to host the games has proven that.

[jhonsmithx11]

Yes this is right because to host an event like olympic need a lots of space on ground as well as in hotels resorsts.