Sportswriter for Nation Lays It Out – “No Games For Chicago!”

Watch this video where Nation magazine sports editor and columnist, Dave Zirin, lays out the history of the modern Olympics and explains why bringing the 2016 games to Chicago would be a disaster.

Atlanta Community Leader Sets The 96 Games Record Straight

Anita Beaty directs the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless and she was in Atlanta for the run up the 1996 Olympics and has lived through the delivery and aftermath. She warns us not to believe the hype. Will you listen to her?

You can also listen to and embed an audio player for her remarks (6 minutes) at Evoca.com!

Download a Word transcript of her remarks.

Nation Sports Writer: Olympics in Chicago Would Be “Obama’s Folly”

David Zirin is The Nation’s sports editor. He writes about Chicago’s bid in his September 22 column:

Recently Barack Obama criticized planned protests at the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh because, as he knew from his Chicago days, “focusing on concrete, local, immediate issues that have an impact on people’s lives is what really makes a difference and…having protests about abstractions [such] as global capitalism or something, generally, is not really going to make much of a difference.”

Well, on September 29 at Chicago’s City Hall a protest will take place that will focus on a “concrete, local, immediate issue,” putting the protesters across the barricades from Barack and Michelle Obama as well as the all-powerful Democratic political machine of the city. The issue is the 2016 Olympic bid and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s political pact with the Obamas to see the Games come to the Windy City. Mayor Daley, rocking a 35 percent approval rating, says that the Games would be “a huge boost to our economy, raising it to a new level. The Games will help us recover sooner from the recession that still grips our nation and enable us to better compete in the global economy.”

There is only one problem with this argument: the history of the Olympic Games almost without exception brands it as a lie.

Longest Serving Alderman’s Son Gives “Top 10 Reasons Why Chicago Should Not Host Olympics”

Jay Stone is the son of Alderman Bernie Stone of the 50th Ward. Jay has created a web site, No Chicago Games, that outlines Chicago’s long history of political corruption.  He makes the case that President Obama should NOT endorse or support Mayor Daley in his fanatic quest to host the 2016 Olympics.

The Top 10 Reasons Why Chicago Shouldn’t Host the Olympics

1. President Obama should not reward Daley with his support for a Chicago Olympics because of the numerous crimes and civil rights violations that have occurred during Daley’s 29 year tenure as mayor and states attorney. Given the amount of corruption that has happened under Daley, it is absurd that President Obama or First Lady Michelle are even considering making a presentation on behalf of a Daley sponsored Chicago Olympics.

2. Daley planned and followed through on an unlawful hiring and election rigging system before Daley was sworn in as mayor. Daley is scheming to use Olympic contracts and contractors to further his political might just like Daley did before becoming mayor of Chicago. One election rigging scheme, shame on Daley. A second election rigging scheme, shame on us.

Read the rest of the reasons…

CTA Airs 2016 Propaganda

The CTA is now airing promotional spots for the 2016 bid on our buses!

To complain, call them at 312-664-7200 press 2, then press 4.

We called and the customer service representative told us that these new promos started yesterday and were paid for by the 2016 Committee.

In response to the question “Is this a new ad program – can anyone place audio ads on public transportation now?” We were told a representative of the CTA’s marketing department would call back. [Days later - no call.] Here’s their official e-mail response:

Thank you for your feedback. The CTA is airing messages in support of Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games. The messages were produced and paid for by Chicago 2016. Adjustments have been made to decrease the volume of the announcements and ensure they do not preempt stop announcements and other information. If you notice ongoing technical issues, please send us the 4-digit bus number, and we will forward your information to our Bus Maintenance Department for testing and repair.

We appreciate your comments.
CTA FEEDBACK TEAM

Comment at Chicago Now.  Steve Chapman at the Chicago Tribune is pissed. Chicago Examiner – “Chicago’s CTA plays new role as political messenger.“

This is only the latest city agency turned over to the bid. The 2016 visuals are all over the airports. Our public schools were ordered to produce “Olympic Week” events that turned our children into props for the bid. Chicago police were assigned to all the 2016 community meetings – ofter two to four uniformed officers per event. Of course, our parks. lake front and harbors were turned over the 2016 Committee to do with as they please. Now we can’t even ride a bus without being subjected to the bid publicity swill.

From a No Games supporter (Sept 17):

I called and complained to CTA about the bus messages. The woman did tell me they have received many complaints and plan on eliminating the messages. I will also be sending you a check in the mail. You all have done a tremendous job with getting the word out and informing all those that will listen. I have also passed on to others. I support all your/our efforts 100% and ridding the city of this potential disaster, maybe we can rid ourselves of the mayor along the way!!!!

Host City Contract Transfers Sovereignty to Switzerland

Chicago, are you ready to be ruled by the IOC from Switzerland for seven years? No kidding. The Host City Contract includes language on making local laws subservient to the IOC Charter and Swiss law.

As reported in the Vancouver Sun:

Contract binds Vancouver to play by IOC rules or not play at

Elites of the Olympic movement and former mayor sealed deal to bypass Canada’s constitutionally protected rights and freedoms

By Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun – August 7, 2009

It’s easy to understand why the International Olympic Committee would want any disputes with host cities decided by its own “court,” so that it is beyond the grasp of courts in countries whose judicial systems are dodgy.

But why on earth did Vancouver’s former mayor Larry Campbell sign the host city contract governed by Swiss law and agree that “any dispute concerning [the contract's] validity, interpretation or performance shall be determined conclusively by arbitration, to the exclusion of the ordinary courts of Switzerland or of the host country?”

The sports court — the IOC’s arbitration process — deals with issues of athletes’ disqualifications due to doping or other infractions. It has rarely, if ever, dealt with the myriad other issues from sponsorship agreements to taxes to financial disbursements that are covered in the Vancouver agreement.

Signing off Vancouver’s right to access Canadian courts in the event of a dispute with the IOC is just one of the troubling pieces of the 61-page contract signed in 2003 and obtained by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association under B.C.’s Access to Information Act.

The contract’s preamble declares that the IOC is “the supreme authority of and leads the Olympic movement.”

And the Olympic ayatollahs required that the city stage the Games in full compliance with the Olympic Charter and that it agrees to “conduct all activities in a manner which promotes and enhances the integrity, ideals and long-term interests of the IOC and the Olympic Movement.”

Canadians Bemoan 2010 Civil Rights Abuse – We Can’t Wait

The Council of Canadians is one of Canada’s largest public advocacy organizations. On July 21 they issued a statement on the 2010 Winter Games:

We are concerned that the civil liberties of local communities and those who have a critique of the Games are being undermined by an unnecessary security presence. The security budget for the games has ballooned to $1 billion, while security and law enforcement agencies have identified protest groups as the most significant threat to the Games. Over 4,500 Canadian military troops will be deployed to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics – twice the number Canada has in Afghanistan.

Federal Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association have both raised serious concerns about the threat to fundamental rights to privacy and protest arising from the installation and introduction of new surveillance and security measures. Almost a year before the start of the Games surveillance cameras are being installed in Whistler and Vancouver and, according to several credible reports, harassment of protesters has begun.

Residents of Whistler, site of the nordic and downhill venues, are already living in what amounts to a “security zone,” which is only expected to escalate as the opening date approaches. Critics of the Games, including a Council of Canadians board member, have allegedly been placed under surveillance, while hikers and mountain bikers find favourite wilderness trails blocked by mysterious military operations. Download the complete statement.

So how do you think Chicago will fare if we get the games? With our long history of police spying, civil rights abuse, the courts stacked with Machine hacks, the installation of cameras on our streets and the Mayor’s short temper toward criticism – you’ve got the recipe for a civil liberties nightmare.

UN Asked to Monitor Vancouver Rights Abuse

As reported online by Yahoo News Canada:

An Olympic watchdog group is asking the United Nations to send human rights observers to the 2010 Winter Games.

The Impact on Communities Coalition haVGs also filed two new complaints to the UN over civil rights and housing in the hopes of finding a way to hold organizers accountable for the way the Olympics affect those two areas.

While the complaints won’t be heard until after the Games, group spokesperson Am Johal says they could be used to open up a much-needed international dialogue.

And Chicago has SUCH a great record with civil rights to START with, right?

Vancouver Games Shreds Civil Liberties – We Can’t Wait

From the Council of the Canadians’ web site:

David Eby, the executive director of the BC Civil Liberties Association, recently wrote in the Vancouver Sun that, “While the International Olympic Committee earns a gold medal in the race to protect its sponsors and the Olympic brand, the same cannot be said of its performance in the competition for free speech and democratic rights.”

“For example, Rule 51 of the IOC Olympic Charter prohibits any ‘demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.’ Not exactly the stuff of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but then again, nobody elected the IOC to protect democracy.In countries such as Canada, protecting our sometimes messy but always cherished freedoms is the task, in large part, of our elected representatives.”

“Unfortunately for Vancouverites, our city council hasn’t turned in a medal performance in the free-speech competition either. They’ve just rushed

through a package of bylaws that skate over the free-speech rights of, in no particular order: small and independent businesses, artists, rock bands, protesters and Vancouver residents as a whole.”

“Coun. Geoff Meggs defends the new bylaws, suggesting the B.C. Civil Liberties Association is ‘going too far’ in criticizing the initiatives. Apparently without appreciating the irony involved, he advises that council values free expression rights because, among other initiatives: ‘Security planners . . . are creating certain high-profile areas, close to the heart of the action, where protesters are sure to be heard and seen by IOC and world leaders.’”

“Beyond the alarming possibility that the majority of council believes that limiting free speech to particular areas, high profile or otherwise, somehow demonstrates a commitment to free speech, the B.C. Civil Liberties Association points out that council’s new bylaws and motions:

Civil Liberties Nightmare and Worse – Learn From Vancouver

As reported in The North Coast online journal:

Vancouver professor and Olympics Resistance Network organizer Chris Shaw came to Chicago early this year at the request of No Games Chicago, and spoke of the immense public debt, destruction to public parks, and “frontal assault on civil liberties” that have been the results of Vancouver having won the 2010 Games. Chris had the following to say regarding Vancouver’s experience with the Games so far:

“Chicago Should Avoid Following in Vancouver’s Olympic Missteps”

I look back to 2003 and what is happening with Chicago’s Olympic bid is eerily reminiscent of Vancouver’s successful bid six years ago. Then, as now, bid boosters were promising local citizens the world: fame, wealth, and the host of goodies that would flow from a nod from the IOC. Vancouver’s then mayor promised that the 2010 Games wouldn’t cost the citizens ‘one penny”, that provincial and federal funds would be leveraged for local needs, and that the entire process would be completely transparent and accountable. Bid organizers promised a host of goodies including “the greenest Games ever”, an arts legacy, and “social inclusivity” (short hand for social housing). It was a lovely dream and many Vancouverites bought into it. In a non-binding Vancouver plebiscite, some 64% of Vancouverites voted for the bid to go forward. The same question was not put to the rest of the province of British Columbia because the sitting Premier knew it would fail miserably.