Whereas I am proud to be a Filipino, I am just as equally proud to be an American and more so as Philadelphian. This is my home now and a city that has given me so much. Which is why I am just happy to hear that it’s an all-go for my dear city to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. I know that this topic is way out of the OFW topics that we talk about here, but this is truly something dear to me.
Chicago, represented by Daley and businessmen Miles White and Pat Ryan, promised enthusiastic support from corporations, compact games in a city known for skyscrapers and Lake Michigan shoreline, mass transit and ethnic diversity.
“I described it as an American experience, Chicago style,” Daley said. “That’s very important. We want the Olympics to come back to America. This is an opportunity to showcase middle America.”
There are five (5) US cities competing for the honor to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. These are:
• Houston, Texas with Houston Mayor Bill White accompanied by Astros owner Drayton McLane and businessman George DeMontrond. They touted the city’s leadership and financial resources, including several Fortune 500 companies.
• Los Angeles, California with mayor Villaraigosa brought along Janet Evans, a swimmer who won four Olympic gold medals.
• San Francisco, California with mayor Newsom painted a postcard-quality picture of athletes competing on and around his city’s famous landmarks.
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the only city not represented by its mayor. Stephanie Naidoff, commerce director for the City of Brotherly Love, said she had “every confidence that Philadelphia can deliver on the Olympic dream that not only will make the U.S. Olympic Committee proud, but will make all of America proud.”
We are a region that has a lot of facilities, not just in Center City Philadelphia,” Torsella said. “For example, imagine a Summer Games where beach volleyball takes place in Atlantic City and the equestrian events take place at the horse grounds in Devon. It really is something that would be spread across the region.”
Philadelphia found in a recent study that it has 17 of the 31 required sports venues already in place and can easily provide temporary venues for seven more. By comparison, Paris has only 11, and was a favorite to get the 2012 Summer Games. Those, however, were recently rewarded to London. Some venues can be used for more than one event, such as the Pennsylvania Convention Center, which can house five temporary venues. That means the city has very few to build: It would need to construct a swimming facility, a track and field stadium, a tennis facility and a beach volleyball facility.
The city already has about 38,000 hotel rooms, so only about 2,000 would need to be added, in addition to an Olympic Village to house the athletes.
The Philadelphia School District plans on building multi-sport complexes for schools around the city, referred to as “supersites.” Paul Vallas, the CEO of the School District, said that the South Philadelphia supersite would make an “ideal practice facility,” should the Olympic games be held here. “Which means at the end of the day they (the supersites) are going to be better off for the Philadelphia school children than they would be otherwise,” said Torsella.
Dawn Staley, a three-time Olympic gold medallist who carried the flag in the 2004 Olympic opening ceremonies, said she has confidence in Philadelphia as an Olympic city, “I think Philadelphia is a great spot for the Olympics,” she said. “I think we can accommodate all of the events in the city and the surrounding suburbs. I think it would be a great place for the Olympics; it’s a hot city with a great night life.”
Facilities might not be as much of an obstacle as attitude is. Do Philadelphians even want to host the Olympics? Torsella is confident that the people of this city will recognize that the bid for the 2016 Olympics is a great opportunity for reform. As Vallas said, “Just competing results in upgrading resources.”
One thing that would benefit is the region’s transit system. SEPTA received a lot of criticism for the delays of public transportation after the Live 8 benefit concert on July 2, but Torsella thinks that with some “upgrades and refurbishments” the transit system could be improved to handle the Olympic crowd. If Philadelphia were to be nominated and win, it would bring many jobs to assist in preparing and running the Games, and even afterward in the hospitality industry. Torsella is convinced that the Games would also lead to a sustained increase in tourism in the years following. He said: “ We are coming now from a position of some strength where we’ve had some successes, a lot of successes, but I think it would just cement that for generations. I can’t think of anything that would have as long-lasting an effect,”
Torsella said that the Republican National Convention, which was held in the summer of 2000, and Live 8 have “prepared people mentally for the idea that we can put on a show and host a party this big.” Mayor Street agrees. Street said he believes that Live 8’s concert in Philly was the best in the world. And, he said, the city has a head start on many cities vying for the Olympics because we have so many sports facilities. Philadelphia, he added, has proven it can handle big crowds with ease.
Torsella said that the initial plan was to bid for the 2024 Summer Games, but as the 2016 Games presented themselves as less of a dream and more of a possibility, Torsella became convinced Philadelphia has a real shot at getting them. He emphasized that the city of Philadelphia is interested in the first available opportunity to be a part of the Olympics, whether that is 2016, 2020 or even 2024. Torsella said that whatever the year, bidding for the Games will be beneficial to the city. “No matter if we get the Games or we don’t, it will still do great things for the Philadelphia region.”
Besides, Philadelphia being the first capital of the United States has a lot of history to offer to the world. Think Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross and a host of other big named national heroes.
I’m sure that in the very near future, there will be a Philadelphia Olympics Website. Watch out for it. In the meantime, if you want to follow the news: here’s the link:
http://www.philadelphiaolympics.com/
AND FOR AN UPDATE – POSTED JULY 27, 2006:
USOC drops Houston, Philly from runningBy ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer1 hour, 36 minutes agoBy ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer1 hour, 36 minutes agoThe backdrop of America’s bid for the 2016 Olympic Games might be the Golden Gate Bridge, the Sears Tower or the Los Angeles Coliseum — or none of these at all.
The U.S. Olympic Committee eliminated Houston and Philadelphia as candidate cities for the 2016 Olympics on Wednesday, leaving San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago in the running for what many consider to be America’s best shot in years at landing a Summer Games.
The three finalists, however, will have to make significant enhancements in their plans for the USOC even to bid on the 2016 Games, said Peter Ueberroth, the USOC chairman and the architect of the profit-making 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
“Right now, of the three cities that were selected today, there’s none that would have an acceptable program that we could take to the International Olympic Committee,” Ueberroth said. “It’s possible that none can get to where they need to be. It’s possible they all get to where they need to be. …
“It may be that one of these cities will drop out as we tighten the regulations, if you will, or the expectations.”
The three remaining cities will now have to finalize plans, including budgets, and present their bids to the USOC board of directors, which plans to decide by year’s end whether to submit a bid for the 2016 Games. If it does, it will pick a city by the end of next March. The IOC will select the winning site in 2009.
Other cities that have expressed interest in hosting the 2016 Games include Rome and Milan in Italy; Madrid, Spain; Hamburg, Germany, and the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Fukuoka.
Led by Ueberroth, the USOC is taking a larger role in determining whether any U.S. city will bid for the 2016 Games. The failure of New York’s bid for the 2012 Games has been blamed in part on poor coordination between the city and the USOC.
Many people believe 2016 is the best chance for the United States to land a Summer Olympics in the near future. It is believed the IOC would like to put games in Africa and South America, two continents that have never hosted the games, in 2020 and 2024.
The U.S. has not hosted the Summer Games since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The 2002 Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City.
The USOC appointed a four-person committee to evaluate information provided by the cities last month, including ideas for an Olympic stadium, an Olympic village and the amount of local and regional government support they would expect to receive.
The committee also reviewed international polling on whether the time is right for an American city to host the Olympics and which city might have the best chance to win the bid.
“All five cities that have participated in this process are capable of one day hosting the Olympic Games,” Ueberroth said. “From the outset, we have said this process is about identifying the one U.S. city that has the best chance of being competitive in the international race. If we do not believe a U.S. city can be competitive, we will not bid.”
Among the factors that will weigh into any bid is the amount of revenue the 2016 Olympics can be expected to produce — and how much will go to the host country. A big chunk of that revenue comes from TV rights, and the U.S. Olympic TV rights are sold only through 2012.
Houston Mayor Bill White had touted his city’s leadership and financial resources, including several Fortune 500 companies. Philadelphia had pointed to its storied past in American history.
“We thank the citizens of Philadelphia and the region for standing behind this project and for thinking and dreaming big,” Philadelphia Mayor John Street said. “While we are disappointed to hear of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s decision, we’re honored to have made it to the second round.”
Of the remaining candidates, Los Angeles is citing its diversity as a strong point and the availability of 38 Olympic-quality venues since it has hosted two Summer Games. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also has suggested the events will be easier to get to than in 1984.
“L.A. is the best place in the world to host the Olympic Games,” touted Barry Sanders, chairman of the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games. “We can put the Games on in a way that captures the world’s imagination — in facilities we already have.”
Sanders said that when the USOC asked the five cities last month to submit their proposals for hosting the Games, “all the other cities had to basically sit down and start creating architectural plans. Not us.”
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said his Olympics would provide a stunning setting for the Games, with marathoners crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, cyclists pedaling through the Presidio and sailors navigating his city’s scenic bay.
“We strongly believe that San Francisco’s international appeal and the strength of our regional bid will be a significant advantage in our effort to host the 2016 Olympic Games,” Newsom said.
Chicago, meanwhile, promised support from corporations, compact events framed by Lake Michigan’s shoreline, mass transit and, like Los Angeles, ethnic diversity.
“We are honored to be a part of this process, and Chicago is committed to work with the USOC to develop a plan that can secure the necessary 60 international votes to bring the Olympic Games to the United States and to our great city,” said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. “There is consensus among Chicago’s public and private sectors and our cultural, sports and educational communities that proceeding along this path is right for both the Olympic movement and Chicago.”
All three finalists were embraced in the USOC’s worldwide survey that included 58 IOC members, said Bob Ctvrtlik, head of the USOC’s international relations department.
Ctvrtlik said he was optimistic the USOC will bid for the 2016 games — “We’ve inched a little further toward going forward” — although Ueberroth said he wasn’t so sure just yet.
“Bob is optimistic and that’s his job, to get a city there,” Ueberroth said. “I’m an anchor, and I’m not going to let them waste their money and/or their efforts unless we feel we can have a real good chance of winning this thing.”
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Ganda nga ng state nyo…kagagaling nga ulit namin sa gettysburg para ipasyal yung mga friends, romans, and countrymen galing west coast…
so wazzup with mayor john street’s big brother milton? what’s all these fraud charges all about – what’s so fraudulent about selling hotdogs and soda anyway??? rumors has it that the IRS is after him for 2 million dollars unpaid taxes, TWO MILLION MAGTITINDA LANG NG HOTDOGS AT SOPDRIKS SA PHILLY?
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Pennsylvania is really beautiful. Hills, mountains, snow, traffic, call 911 at domino’s pizza ang darating dahil naninigarilyo pa mga pulis, barilan ever ever, pati na nga yong mga native naming Amish people binanatan yong mga kids did you hear that? We are the land of Hershey Chocolates, the 1st capital of the United States, bayan ni Benjamin Franklin, where the Constitution was signed, where the 1st Supreme Court was, where the bandila nang Estados Unidos eh sinulsi ni Tita Betsy Ross, kasama ang litrature ni Walt Whitman, kung saan tumakbo at hindi tumalon si Stallone sa Art Museum, land of eagles, flyers, soul, the only private I.V. league Univ of Pennsylvania, bayan ni Reyna Elena at I swear to God, hindi po ako ang bumasag nang Liberty Bell.
10 years ago or so, my city is known as Filthydelphia. Muggers, homeless people, blighted neigborhoods, double digit unemployment, the city is bankcrupt, store closing, businesses moving to Pluto
Until a man named Rendell came. He changed the downward spiral of the city. My city began to have some sort of renaissance. The avenue of the arts is now full of new broadway cinemas, theatre of the arts, the beautiful Kimmel Center, fancy restaurants, people are moving back to the city, a lot of old neighborhoods are now alive and busy, developments are sprouting with new condominiums where prices are now in the millions and it still continues. We’re back to being the European city in the East Coast, very cosmopolitan.
But, everything is not perfect. Unfortunately, we have these news that really annoys the heck out of us Phillies.
Yes, Milton is the brother of the current Mayor Street. He was indicted for failing to pay income taxes to the tune of $2million, defrauding airport contractors for $80,000 on a promise that he can get them a $3.2million contract, $100,000 kickback to a businessman in exchange of obtaining a lucrative airport contract and securing a $30,000 a month consulting job on airport maintenance contract. All of these are splashed in our daily papers here.
But of course, this will have to be fought in courts. Right now, both sides are preparing their he-did-it-no-i-didn’t-do-it testimonies and ceremonies. We’ll find out what happens next. It’s like playing the game of truth or consequence.
So you see, I am very very much at home here in Philadelphia. Para syang Philapinas.
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I agree, ganda nga ng Philly. Maiba tayo…have you seen the latest sa weathr ng Pinas…May new typhoon na naman that just hit the country… DURIAN! Nag mud flow sa Albay and 8 villages were burried. Hundreds died.
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Eto nga wala akong makuhang news even sa mga classmates ko…
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