The Olympics 2016 thread is gone, so figured I post this here...

 

ChicagoTribune.com-

When Mayor Richard Daley spoke at the private and final meeting of Chicago 2016 volunteers, he was, according to one attendee, "in rare form." Another described him as "on a rant. It was straight off the cuff. ... He looked angry, and he was angry."

 

Now, we weren't there. The press was barred from last week's meeting at the Aon Center and the reception that followed at the private Mid-America Club on the top floor of the building. About 150 to 200 volunteers attended, and four shared their impressions on the condition of anonymity.

 

Daley started his remarks by calling on the federal government to financially back all future U.S. Olympic bids. It was too difficult for U.S. cities to raise the necessary funds in such short amounts of time, while their competitors often received financial assistance from their national governments, he said.

 

"He started by saying we spent $75 million, and the next city was going to have to spend $100 million, and we didn't even have a chance," said one attendee, paraphrasing the mayor, who was the driving force behind the bid. "It was all politics and all money. All politics and all money. (The International Olympic Committee) didn't care about the athletes, and they didn't care about the quality of the bid."

 

Another attendee said she came away from the 15-minute speech believing the city never understood the depth of its disadvantage. And Daley reportedly told the group that had the city known from the start that the International Olympic Committee was intent on taking the games to new regions of the globe, they never would have spent the time or the money on the effort.

 

"We were seeing the mayor's real feelings -- how he was really disappointed and frustrated," she said.

 

Previously, Daley's public comments on the loss have been more measured and gracious. Jacqueline Heard, the mayor's spokeswoman, said she did not attend Thursday's event, but the mayor's "disappointment in the outcome in Copenhagen is pretty well known. It's probably safe to assume that he believes there should be changes."

 

Daley, the audience members reported, refrained from directly criticizing the United States Olympic Committee, which has squabbled with the international body that selects the host city, by remarking: "Don't get me started."

 

"It was all politics and all money. All politics and all money. (The International Olympic Committee) didn't care about the athletes, and they didn't care about the quality of the bid."... well, he would know a little something about politics and money and how everything else doesnt matter.

 

"It was all politics and all money. All politics and all money. (The International Olympic Committee) didn't care about the athletes, and they didn't care about the quality of the bid."... really? Daley didnt know? He had no idea Rio was the prime target? What a buffoon.

Daley does do things sometimes that make me like him a lot.

If that makes Daley a buffoon, then there are a whole lot more buffoons running around out there, many here on Soxtalk.

If that makes Daley a buffoon, then there are a whole lot more buffoons running around out there, many here on Soxtalk.

That's harsh... Otter-Man.

I mean, he really kind of has a point.

And if anyone is an expert on politics and money, it is King Daley II.

I mean, he really kind of has a point.

His hair covers it pretty well most of the time, though.

He'd have a point if he didn't lose the very game he plays on a "daily" basis.

 

Pun intended.

 

Daley is all politics, so I think it's funny politics kicked his ass in this case.

I love Daley. He's the best.

$75,000,000.00?! You are f***ing kidding me. Adding up what other cities must have spent, including cities that didn't even make the finals, and easily over half a billion dollars was spent? wtf?

That's 75 million, Tex.

 

 

Daley can kiss my white ass.

Daley and idiot friends did not get to hose the Illinois taxpayer to dam bad Ritchie!

Daley and idiot friends did not get to hose the Illinois taxpayer to dam bad Ritchie!

 

Because why did Illinois want things like jobs and infrastructure improvements. Those are for other people!