In 1893 and 1933, Chicago hosted World's Fairs that drew tens of millions of spectators and thrust the city into the international spotlight with grandiose displays of architecture, culture and technology. The 2016 Olympic Games would provide another chance to show off for the world, but on an even grander scale. Chicago Tribune | previously 1 | 2 | 3
3 Comments
LA or Chicago, whichever gets the nod, are both doing a simple olympic plan compared to recent games which spent into the multiple billions. Both LA and Chicago seem to be more interested in showing off their existing cities. This could be a new trend - using the spectacle to transform blighted urban landscapes. The area Chicago proposes has seen near apocolyptic devestation in the last 50 years with the collapse of the steel industry, white flight, concentration of the poor. However the infrastructure and buildings are extrodinary - and 15min to the loop!! I hope whichever city gets it - shows the world that urban America is rebounding and can be livable.
Barcelona was successful in this regard too. the olympic village is now a living part of that city. not sure if the areas were previously blighted...
I hope it signals a rebirth of urban life in America. The Atlanta games just didnt do much for the fabric of the city. The area in Chicago is tree lined streets, stately boulevards and really needs a boost. I suspect many cities in America are dealing with this same issue - disintegrating legacy. The London games reclaim brownfeild sites and China i think is slum clearing for their games.
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