In seven days the host city of the 2016 Olympic Games will be announced at the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen, Denmark. Chicago is competing alongside with Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro.
The Olympics and Paralympics of 2016 would present an extraordinary opportunity for Chicagoans to tackle the problems that have so long blocked the economic growth of Chicago’s south and west sides .
If Chicago wins the bid, it will open thousands of opportunities and new jobs in all industries, especially in the construction industry which suffered massive layoffs in 2009. Building the Olympic village, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Aquatic Center and many other planned venues, would create thousands of new jobs desperately needed by the city. The construction industry would not be the only industry benefiting from the Olympics, but also transportation, communications, utilities, hospitality, and local businesses would all enjoy numerous new jobs created by the Games.
At the end, the Olympic Games will occupy a host city only for 16 days. What’s left after the closing ceremony is what really matters.