What do you think about the Olympics coming to Chicago?

[Network Administrator]

What are your thoughts on 2016? Are you excited about the Olympics? What are your thoughts and concerns?

[Chris Jones]

I am not very excited about the olympics possibly coming to Chicago. I think that it would be nice if the olympics were held here, but if it's not I am not going to lose any sleep over it. I really don't understand how the citizens of Chicago will benefit from having the olympics here. They say that bringing the olympics to Chicago will create jobs here, but whether Chicago gets the olympics or not we still have to figure out how to create jobs here.
I think I really would have gotten a little excited about the olympics coming to Chicago if I had heard that the revenue generated from the olympics being here would either lower or offset a property tax increase for the 10 years following the olympics. But I did not hear that.

[Freddrenna M. Lyle]

Hi Chris:

The theory, and everything we have to go on is of course theory, but the theory is that the profit generated from the Olympics will be used in a Legacy Fund. In the LA Olympics they created a dynamic LA84 Legacy Fund. It has been used since that time to fund youth programs all across southern California. After researching the LA model, I committed to making that model work for us, if we win the games. As to the jobs that will be created people automatically think of those in the service and construction industries. There will also be lots of opportunities in the logistics and transportation areas. Everything used here for the games will have to be purchased and shipped here and then folks will have to install it, set it up, hook it up and keep it running. Our challenge is to start training in January if we get the games so people will be ready to take advantage of whatever opportunities present themselves. But we may not get the games anyway. We'll know in October.

Chris Jones said:

I am not very excited about the olympics possibly coming to Chicago. I think that it would be nice if the olympics were held here, but if it's not I am not going to lose any sleep over it. I really don't understand how the citizens of Chicago will benefit from having the olympics here. They say that bringing the olympics to Chicago will create jobs here, but whether Chicago gets the olympics or not we still have to figure out how to create jobs here.
I think I really would have gotten a little excited about the olympics coming to Chicago if I had heard that the revenue generated from the olympics being here would either lower or offset a property tax increase for the 10 years following the olympics. But I did not hear that.