Pros and Cons for Chicago to have the 2016 Olympics

On October 2, 2009, the IOC will be making the decision of who will host the 2016 Summer Olympics in Copenhagen, Denmark. The four cities vying for the spot are Chicago, Illinois in the USA, Tokyo, Japan, Madrid, Spain, and Rio de Janiero, Brazil. I will take an in-depth look at all four cities starting with Chicago today.

Advantages for Chicago:

1. The Olympics have not been in the United States since they were held in Atlanta in 1996. The United States is long overdue for the Olympics to be held again in this country.

2. There would not be a need to implement further legislation for the Olympic Games. From a customs perspective, O'hare Airport is one of the busiest airports in the entire world. The airport would be more than capable to deal with all of the customs' issues that would occur from such a massive event as the Summer Olympics.

3. As a perk, the Chicago Park District announced that there would be free admission to all of the parks and museums throughout the city during the span of the Summer Olympics. If you are a sightseer, then that would be a huge bonus.

However, there are some major disadvantages for having the Olympics in Chicago.

1. Traffic Congestion. The entire eastern part of the city borders alongside Lake Michigan. Therefore, there would be only three ways to drive into the city which would clog up the streets no matter how much the infrastructure would be improved.

2. Crime. The last time that the Olympics were in Atlanta, someone was shot and murdered in the Olympic Village. Some of the Olympic venues would be built along the South Shore. If you had to go to these games, you better wear a vest. Chicago has had the most homicides of children between 10-17 of any city in the world!

3. Fifteen new venues would have to be built, which would further clog up congestion.

4. The city's marketing program proposed to the IOC does not comply with the requirements given by the IOC to each city. Chicago was the only city not to comply. The IOC is looking to make money from each Olympics, so they do frown upon faulty advertising.

After weighing the pros and the cons, I do not want the IOC to pick Chicago. Too many of the poor would be displaced to ensure that the new venues would be built.