Chicago has not been awarded the 2016 Olympics. No Games Chicago thinks is a very good decision for the people of Chicago. But what happens now? The mayor has been quoted as saying he has “nothing up his sleeve” with regards to economic development for the future of the city. Representatives of the 2016 Committee said on many occasions at public meetings that this was THE plan for jobs and prosperity for our future. There appears to be no Plan B.
What now?
No Games Chicago helped turn back a bad plan for our future. Should we stay around to help build a better plan?
Please answer the questions on our brief survey to tell us what role, if any, a group like our might play in helping to create a city where all prosper in health and security.
What ideas do YOU have for our city’s future economic development?
We spare no expense to update Chicago on what we’re doing! Seriously, Copenhagen has been flooded with olice, security and Secret Service agents. Everyone here is excited about Oprah, Michelle Obama or Pele. We still like to think that our presence is making a difference…
No Games Chicago is in Copenhagen! The same team that went to Lausanne, Switzerland in June is now in Copenhagen. Our goal remains the same – to convince the International Olympic Committee that the 2016 Olympics for Chicago is the wrong project for the wrong city at the wrong time.
We;re still raising funds to pay for this trip – so please do use the PayPal button on the right!
Follow the news of our efforts on the “Live From Copenhagen” page on this web site!
For No Games supporters an inspirational quote from the late great Molly Ivins:
“So keep fightin’ for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t you forget to have fun doin’ it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin’ ass and celebratin’ the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was. “
LET THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE KNOW THAT CHICAGOANS DO NOT WANT THE OLYMPIC GAMES.
The City of Chicago currently has a $500 million budget gap. Chicago public schoolsare being closed and the CTA is crumbling. The city is staggering from one budget crisis to the next – and the Mayor’s Office is already predicting that the 2010 budget will be worsethan 2009.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s City Council has put the taxpayers on the hook for any cost overruns that would occur if the city gets the Olympics. And Olympics and cost overruns go hand in hand. Currently, the City of Vancouver, host of the 2012 Winter Olympics is on the hook for $6 billion in Olympics cost overruns – which may bankrupt the city. The 2012 Summer Gamesin London are 4-times over budget, with a total bill of at least $20 billion.
On October 2nd the International Olympic Committee will decide on the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games. Let your voice be heard… Protest the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid.
CHICAGO NEEDS BETTER HOSPITALS, HOUSING, SCHOOLS AND TRAINS… NOT OLYMPIC GAMES.
Endorsed by: No Games Chicago, Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP), Answer Chicago, Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE), International Socialist Organization, Northside Action for Justice, Green Party Chicago, Pan-African Roots, March 10 Committee, Pilsen Alliance, IVI-IPO, United Taxpayers of Oak Park.
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?
We’ve also launched a new website for “Clout Fest 2009″ where you can share your creativity – upload videos, art work, text and audio with your impressions of the Olympic bid, Mayor Daley and clout in Chicago. We’ve already got a few entries to inspire you! The special web space is at http://nogames.pbworks.com.
Donate via the PayPal link on the upper right hand side of this site. You can mail contributions by sending a check made out “No Games Chicago” to P.O. Box 6815, Chicago IL 60680-6815. Donations are not tax deductible.
One of the first to reply was Bill Schandelmeier who wrote:
“A check for $75.00 is in the mail. I sincerely wish it could be more. Please keep the pressure on these filthy crooked bastards, especially the Daley Administration. The level of corruption and deceit exhibited by many of our city officials is absolutely staggering! These individuals would sell their own mothers if a profit could be made. They are nothing more than a bunch of political thugs and scam artists. Have they already forgotten that Chicago is deep in the middle of a serious financial crisis? The individuals who have been promoting Chicago as the best site for the 2016 Olympics are the very same people who are responsible for seriously mismanaging or squandering our limited resources. This fact alone should be of grave concern to the IOC Evaluation Commission. If the games are awarded to Chicago, the inevitable boycotts will be remarkable to say the least and nobody will be able to claim that they were not forewarned. The Olympic Games are a special “once in a lifetime” event for most athletes. They deserve so much more than a venue tainted with unrelenting controversy and shameful political scheming. I hope the IOC thinks so too and makes an informed decision. I give my personal thanks to everyone who has fought hard to end this Olympic sized charade. You are the true champions in my view and your selfless efforts will be an example to others. Thanks again.”
Bill, you’re welcome! Come on, Chicago – please support No Games Chicago as we sprint to the finish of the Olympic Scam!
From Berlin – Patrick Ryan has traveled tens of thousands of miles, crisscrossed time zones and wandered through countless hotel lobbies — all in search of support for Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics.
With six weeks before the International Olympic Committee vote in Copenhagen on Oct. 2, Ryan and leaders of the three other candidate cities have taken the roadshow to Berlin for the last major campaign stop of the race…
Another key challenge for Chicago is to convince IOC members — and taxpayers back home — of its budget plans and financial guarantees for the games. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has pledged to sign the IOC’s host city contract if Chicago gets the games, taking full financial responsibility for any deficit.
“I think the IOC has to be pleased that we have every intent of signing the host city contract,” Ryan said. “At that point you’re putting your city’s credit on the line. Chicago has a very strong credit rating. Then, for the protection of the taxpayers and for the comfort of the IOC, we’re putting an insurance package together.”
But that’s down the road. In a few weeks, the only numbers Ryan will be interested in are the IOC vote totals.
“I’ve learned three important lessons from IOC members,” Ryan said. “Don’t assume anything, stay humble, and work, work, work right up to the very end.”
Mr. Ryan and the rest of the 2016 team is criss-crossing the planet to sell the bid. They are working overtime to snooker the IOC and Chicago’s taxpayers. They will deliver their so-called insurance plan late next week. But it doesn’t matter what’s in the plan – the Mayor is going to sign the blank check. We at No Games Chicago want to keep up the pressure as well. Please come out to the final 2016 community meeting at the Palmer House, 17 E. Monroe, on Tuesday, August 25 at 6:00pm.
We’re Looking for 300 Champions to Donate at least $30 to No Games via PayPal
Download No Games “Book of Evidence”!
Now you can pretend you're a member of the International Olympic Committee! Download your very own "Book of Evidence." This is a 12MB PDF file of the 160-page book we took to Switzerland on June 15!
