Olympics Critic Gains over Former SLOC President
The Super Tuesday presidential primary elections across the U.S. failed to give any candidate a pre-emptive lead for their party nomination. That leaves unanswered the question of how the Chicago bid for the 2016 Olympics might be affected by whoever is elected as the next U.S President.
For there to be any impact, of course, the IOC must select Chicago in June to go on to the final stage of the campaign.
Mitt Romney, the one candidate in the presidential race with the most knowledge of the Olympics won the vote in a half dozen states Tuesday. But the former head of the Salt Lake City Olympics is clearly trailing John McCain for the Republican nomination. Romney has spent upwards of $40 million of his fortune on the campaign, frequently mentioning the financial success of the 2002 Games in his speeches.
McCain, a U.S. Senator from Arizona, has a reputation for speaking out against so-called pork barrel spending, a category in which he placed federal support of the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. In 2000, McCain spoke in the Senate against money being used for security and other necessities for the Games in Salt Lake City, which were headed by Romney.
"The American taxpayer is being shaken down to the tune of nearly a billion and a half dollars," McCain said on the Senate floor, vowing to do all he could to stop the spending.
Despite his chairmanship of the Senate Commerce Committee, McCain failed to stop any federal funds going to Utah. Responding to McCain’s attack, Romney said the amount of money going to Salt Lake City was closer to $250 million.
On the Democratic side of the presidential contest, neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama can lay claim yet to their party nomination. Chicago 2016 leaders believe that either would be sympathetic to the bid: Clinton is a Chicago native and Obama represents the state of Illinois in the U.S. Senate. Currently a senator from New York, Clinton supported the bid from New York for 2012.
Olympic Anniversaries
February 6 marks the 40th anniversary of the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble and the 72nd anniversary of opening of the 1936 Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Grenoble and Garmisch-Partenkirchen aren't alone in celebrating as February is the season for the Winter Olympics. The first Winter Olympics of the modern era tookplace in Chamonix, France January 25-February 4, 1924. Medals were awarded in 16 events of 7 sports. Norway topped the medal count with 17.
St. Moritz hosted the second Olympic Games in 1928 from Feb 11-29. This was the first Games to be held independently of the Summer Games. The Swiss resort also hosted the 1948 Games from Jan 30-Feb 8.
Lake Placid, New York hosted the first of its two Winter Games in 1932 from Feb 4-15. The Games returned to Lake Placid in 1980 from Feb 14-23.
Norway threw its first Games in Oslo from Feb 14-25, 1952. Lillehammer hosted the 1994 Games from Feb 12-27.
The 1956 Games were held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy from January 26-Feb 5, one of only three Winter Games to begin in January instead of February. The Turin Olympics ran from Feb 10-26, 2006.
Squaw Valley, Californiahosted the 1960 Games from Feb 18-28, the first time a computer was used for data processing at the Games.
Innsbruck, Austria pitched the Games in 1964 from Jan 29-Feb 9. The Games returned to Innsbruck in 1976 from Feb 4-15.
The Sarajevo Olympics In 1984 were hosted from Feb 7-19.
Calgary, Canada held the Games from Feb 13-28 in 1988, with 20th anniversary commemorations planned for later this week.
France hosted its third Games in Albertville from Feb 8-23, 1992. It was the last year the Winter Games were held in the same year as the Summer Games and the first time the Winter Paralympics were held at the same site.
Nagano, Japan marks 10 years since the first Winter Games in Asia, held Feb 7-22, 1998.
The sixth anniversary of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City comes on Feb 8.
Written by Ed Hula
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