Every time the International Olympic Committee opens up the process of picking a new host for its games, American cities line up in an effort to be chosen. This is not one of those contests where it is great just to be nominated, either. This is a winner-take-all affair. No silver medal for second place. Chicago was the last American city to try and invite the athletes of the world to its party. Chicago didn’t win. Blame it on Rio, which won the rights, or curse if you prefer, to host those games. Not a single moment has gone by since that Rio, and Brazil, has not been criticized for their handling of the upcoming games. Much was the same during last summer’s build up to Brazil’s hosting of soccer’s biggest event, the World Cup. Makes you wonder why any city would want to go through all that, let alone any country. Now comes word that Boston wants the 2024 Summer Games. Not sure if this is a good idea. Boston is still in part reeling from the bombing at the end of its 2013 marathon. If that event can be a target just imagine the opportunity the Olympic Games would be for our country’s enemies from all over the world. Let’s not forget that the last time an American city hosted the Summer Games there was a bombing. That came in 1996 at the Atlanta Games and the deadly event was done by a U.S. citizen. A lot has changed since 1996. The world has gotten much more violent, tension between countries seems to have grown and terrorists have been much more aggressive in their efforts to hurt their enemies. Atlanta happened in the pre-9/11 era, when we thought of our country as safe and untouchable. We know better now. So you have to wonder if it is smart for us to host one of these things. This is not about sticking up for what is right, or for our way of life. This is also not about running scared at the sign of danger. This is about doing what is smart and what is in our best interests as a country. Do we really need the headache? First of all, the Olympics aren’t what they used to be. They don’t bring life to a city like they did to Los Angeles in 1984. Some would even say they suck the life out of a host city. Greece is still having money problems and didn’t really get a great boost from hosting the 2004 Games. Atlanta’s great Olympic Stadium, which the baseball Braves moved into after the games were gone, isn’t even in the plans of that franchise. It hasn’t been 20 years and the team is already building its own stadium outside city limits. So much for a long-term boom. This makes the case for the post-Games benefit to be a tough one to sell. Never mind what it will cost the country and town in added security and building up of the infrastructure. Seems we have better things to spend our money on. Of course, sports is a great thing for both states and individuals. A winning team can rally a community and lift the spirits of an entire nation. But that can happen on the road just as easily. It’s the difference between hosting a great big party and being invited to one. When you attend a blowout bash you don’t have to do anything afterward but get yourself home. When you host you have to do all that cleaning up. So when it comes to hosting the Olympics, it seems like we would be better off helping to make the mess and not picking it up. l Jim Gazzolo is managing sports editor. Email him at jgazzolo@americanpress.com
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