2024 Summer Olympics in...Columbus?
Ohio State's Jesse Owens collects another gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Suck it, Hitler
Letters have been sent to mayors of the nation's 25 largest cities and 10 others to gauge interest in a potential bid to bring the Summer Olympics back to the U.S. for the first time since 1996, when Atlanta hosted. Salt Lake City held the most recent Winter Games, in 2002.
Columbus is the only city in Ohio to receive interest from the committee.
Though unlikely to win, the Olympics would be a boon to Central Ohio's already booming infrastructure. It's an international city with a solid airport and transportation options that would also receive upgrades ahead of the event.
Traffic nightmare? Unavoidable. If Atlantans and Los Angelinos could handle it for a couple of weeks, so can Central Ohioans.
Comments
I said it in the forum thread and I'll say it here.... I've been to Sochi, Russia before and Columbus, Ohio is a million times better.
But for perspective comparing with a previous Summer Olympics host - I've also been to Barcelona, Spain and Columbus, Ohio is nowhere as cool as Barcelona.
I freaking love Barcelona. I'm not sure it's fair to compare any city to Barcelona.
i've been to Munich's Olympic Stadium area too, and it wasn't particularly impressive (although it is from 1972). The city is fantastic though.
i think Columbus would be a fine location. As a DC area resident though, I'll tell you that nobody should underestimate how bad traffic can be. I'm not sure Columbus really wants the Olympics.
Madrid over Barcelona any day.
Here's another vote for Barca over Madrid. No contest IMO
Never got to go to Barcelona, the king was coming and the Spanish government told our ship we couldn't pull in. We went to Malaga instead, GREAT TIME! (this was in '98).
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
Made it to Madrid too... Madrid sucked in my opinion. Barcelona was so much better.
It's an interesting concept, because when I think of Olympic "destinations," Beijing, Barcelona, London and Rio all seem much more of a "fit" than Columbus. Be that as it may, Columbus is obviously a great sports town, and has that in its favor, even if it lacks a certain sophisticated "flavor."
London and Barcelona yes, Beijing no, and Rio is pretty iffy to me too.
I'm going to the World Cup in Rio, so provided I'm not killed by a Brazilian gang I'll let you know what it's like for big sporting events.
I want to go to the 2020 Euros in Scotland/Wales. What you said is exactly why I'd be wary of Rio.
I'm actually not that worried. The Brazilian government is basically paying off the major gang leaders to patrol their own areas. The tourist area/stadium portion is going to be flooded with police. I'm also going with a bunch of friends, and we'll stick together.
We'll see. Anything can happen anywhere, really.
True, but Rio de Janeiro, and Brazil as a whole aren't exactly shining beacons of safety. Also Brazil still has over 11 million people living in favelas...
Do any Las Vegas casinos offer prop bets on these things? I'm thinking 10,000:1 is a decent opening line.
Keep it. One of the greatest sports days in Chicago history was when they lost the bid for the Olympics.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
while it would be frickin fabulous...it won't happen
"Winter is coming" - Urban Meyer
Olympic golf at Muirfield, maybe Scarlet, too? Yes please.
From my perspective, it seems every host city spends millions and ends up in a bad financial state.
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
The crew events might get stuck in the mud of the "Old N Grungy"
The track would go back in at least temporarily at the Shoe. It would be quite the venue.
There's no way to make that happen. Not enough space.
If they are one of the cities bidding, you can ensure it is in their proposal to make the modification. No where else the track and field events could take place.
Gene Smith to be local Chair.
Lincoln and Morrill Towers to be dubbed as 'Olympic Village' ?!
2024
Columbus, Ohio.
The city of the future.
Come, check out our monorail.
the weird thing is that, in kind of a half assed way, c-bus has the venues to host. but ohio stadium is wholly unsuited for anything like the opening ceremonies, and im gonna venture a guess that most people wouldnt be super pumped about tearing it down and building a new one in its place
Why is it unsuited for the opening ceremony?
By the way, as absurd as the latter part of your statement is, I wouldn't put anything past Gee or Smith if they thought they could turn a buck. With the soaring ticket prices and club memberships, the tradition is giving way to the dollar.
Really the only things that make the shoe unsuited is the orientation of the student section (and how narrow the entrance tunnels are) and the lack of lighting.
The student section is pretty modifiable though.
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