Chicago Speaks

This month’s question: Does Chicago have what it takes to host the 2016 Olympics?

Jered Pruitt | 32, Lakeview
Absolutely. I think Chicago’s ability to handle an event as big as the Gay Games last summer shows how easily the city and surrounding community can successfully entertain a diverse group of people.

 

 

Scott Bieniasz | 31, Wicker Park
Yeah, I think so. It will be an expensive project as far as building all of the necessary venues, but it will be profitable in the end for Chicago. And it’ll give people a chance to see the world’s second-tallest building. It is still the second-tallest building, right?

Mark S. | 31, Lakeview
Of course. I think it would be great for the local economy and draw attention to all Chicago has to offer. And it would be great for The Real Chicago. You guys could go international and distribute it in foreign languages.

Matt Mohrlang | 30, Lincoln Park
I think Chicago would be a great host. Besides having some of the most enthusiastic sports fans in the world, we have a good chunk of the required facilities and infrastructure in place and offer some pretty impressive scenery along the lakefront. At the very least, I think we have more to offer than Los Angeles, but some of our international competition might be tough.

Michelle | 29, Glen Ellyn
I do, but now that I’m driving in from the suburbs, I don’t think I want it here. It sounds like a big pain. How are they going to handle all the increased traffic when it takes me 20 minutes to go two miles in the morning?

Brian Sesterhenn | 30, Uptown
Absolutely. What doesn’t it have? Bars, restaurants, museums, history, as much diversity and culture as you’ll see anywhere, an incredible skyline featuring some of world’s finest architecture and engineering, and don’t forget the large conglomorate of sports fanatics. The only thing it’s really missing is a quality strip club.

 

Chris Neubauer | 25, Wicker Park
Driving down Lake Shore Drive the other day, I was actually thinking about what a traffic nightmare it would be. It would screw things up for about a month. All that stuff that they’re proposing on the South Side, how are they going to get people down there?

Debbie | 31, Lakeview
If Chicago could pull off the World’s Columbian Exposition in the late 1800s with great success, then it’s ready to showcase this city again, except now, with the Olympics. Come on, look at the skyline — enough said!

 

 

Click here for more Chicago Speaks