Taxpayers hope for "inept" Olympics bids

[KurtNYC]

While politicians and developers lust after the chance to spend billions in tax dollars on the 2012 Olympic Games, taxpayers in potential host cities seem to think the only way for them to "win" is by losing the games to another unlucky city.

Matthew Lynn of London says: The 2012 Games are still up for grabs. London, Paris, New York, Madrid and Moscow should each run such inept campaigns that the prize is certain to go to another city. As a Londoner, I'm pleased to say, my own city is already following that advice.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000039&refer=columnist_lynn&sid=aznBwr3ab48w#

Not so fast there you Artful Olympics Dodger you. Our campaign in New York must be WAY lamer than yours. The British are known for the humor and sexiness of their ads. So Matthew, I wish you and your city all the best! May your campaign be slick and effective.

Fortunately, our local ad campaign is one of the lamest ever conceived and a near total waste of $20 million in tax revenue (while our schools have no toilet paper). Behold the lame-ness of this ad:


And we have plenty more like it! Dark colors on a black background. Each word in a different color so it doesn't read easily. An unintentional implication that we may cheat. And many of these ads are turned 90-degrees to the ground. Now that's lame!

So enjoy hosting the 2012 Games London. Hopefully you won't end up like Montreal which pays additional taxes to this day for their 1976 games.

Good luck London! :evilgrin:

[RubyDuby in GA]

1. People made fun of Atlanta

and said ours was "crass" and "way too commercial", but we were the only Olympics that didn't end in debt. On the other hand, this is what the world judged us by.....


This isn't the best picture to describe what most Georgians thought it looked like: a blue sperm farting stars.

[KurtNYC]

3. I thought Atlanta did a great job with the Games but

I heard there is still a tax surcharge to pay for development related to hosting in 1996. Is that true?

Also saw this: Other venues, however, have not delivered the lively after-life promised, including the centers for tennis, beach volleyball and equestrian events. Fulton County invested 2-million dollars to make the shooting center an international destination, and has all but closed it after losing around 300-thousand dollars a year. This was taxpayer money, not the private dollars which built the center and most of the venues. County Commissioner Tom Lowe says long-term expectations turned out to be a little high - and expensive.

http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/39316

[tjwmason]

2. I'm still betting on Paris

And in some senses hoping on Paris. I'm not in London but am close-by and a frequent visitor.

Our main draw-back is that our transport system is utterly useless; so let's pass the buck to the French (besides it would be a massive two fingered salute to Bushco for France to get it).

[Mizmoon]

4. It won't be New York

In order for it to be in NY, we (apparently) have to build a West Side Stadium.

The Dolans, who own Cablevision, don't want a stadium on the West Side because they have exclusive rights to broadcast games from Madison Square Garden. They've been running tons of very effective ads that are convincing locals we don't need a stadium when we could be buying school books, hiring cops, etc.

Bloomberg doesn't stand a chance against them - they control the local airwaves. So - no stadium, and no olympics in NY.

~ This has been a Mizmoon prediction ~

[KurtNYC]

7. Wait till you see the blitz Bloomberg is putting on next week

I think Cablevisions biggest asset is the fact that 60%+ of New Yorkers don't want to pay for the stadium or a $1.8+ billion extnesion of the 7 train. Cablevision helped expose the sweatheart deal that would have sold MTA assets at well below market rates.

But they are busy whipping the city in to hysteria about spending more than $12 billion on the 2012 games. The key part of the strategy is not mentioning the price tag very often and insisting that "tourist revenue will make it back." Of course tourist revenue goes to hotels and not to the city tax coffers. And games far cheaper than whats proposed have left deficits and other problems.

The Gates are part of the hoopla for the IOC committee.

For two days, the commission will be largely holed up in a conference room at the Plaza Hotel, albeit one with a grand view of Central Park and the exhibition "The Gates."
...
On the two other days, commission members will be escorted to the proposed Olympic sites, where experts will highlight their Olympics and post-Olympics uses. Their travel routes will be lined with NYC2012 banners. There will be flourishes: fencers will compete on the steps of the New York Public Library, and a public rally will be staged Monday afternoon at Rockefeller Center.

Doctoroff promised as much fanfare as is allowed under the new I.O.C. rules, which were created to curtail over-the-top wooing. The events will include a horse-drawn carriage ride, a performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center and a dinner at Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's home.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?p=42561

[Menshevik]

5. London's campaign

they just paint "back the bid" on everything...put up posters, banners, etc. A few days ago the tube car I was on was painted with "back the bid" and the seat upholstery was "back the bid", all the ads were "back the bid, everyone can ride the tube to the games" blah blah blah.

When I was in Paris they put the olympic rings and 2012 on the eiffel tower! Seems like they (or the govt at least) really really want the olympics

[yvr girl]

6. I'm glad that Vancouver got the 2010 Games

But the Winter Olympics are much more managable than summer ones. Most of our government money is going to transportation infrastructure, which we desperately need.

Since the 2010 games are in North America, chances are that the 2012 ones will not be.