Chicago In 2020?

Although I have lived in the state of Florida for most of my life, I consider myself an "honorary" Chicagoan by virtue of my birth and first ten years on this earth in the Windy City.  That being said, I was very disappointed when this great city was not chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games.  While knowing that it would come down to a face-off against Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I didn't realize that it would be Madrid, Spain in the final spot and not the Second City.

Being eliminated in the first round of voting was a slap in the face in my opinion.  People will say that it was a reflection of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) views of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) or the international community's reaction to America's politics and that maybe the case.  But to an ordinary citizen, not privy to the political game of the Olympics, I saw it as "Chicago, you stink!"

Throughout this whole process, I was on the fence and not certain whether or not I thought Chicago should be the host.  While I believed that it would be neat to the games held in the nation’s third largest city, would Chicago ultimately benefit by hosting the two week long event?  What would the residents sacrifice?  Would the city shine during and after the Olympics?  Those were the questions weighing down any positive thoughts.

Sure, the media hyped the city of Beijing and the country of China during the 2008 Games.  It was a two week video travel brochure to be sure.  But now that the Olympics have packed up and moved on, is Beijing, China in anyone’s mind?  That’s how I pictured Chicago in 2017.

Ultimately, I just wanted Chicago to be there at the end to show the world what I already know:  that it’s one of the best cities in the world.  It rivals any great metropolis for its entertainment, architecture, history, culture, food, and character.  But that never happened.  It lost out, miserably, finishing fourth.  In the Olympics, you get medals for finishing first, second, or third.  What do you get for fourth place?  Nada, zip, nyet, nothing, zero, nil, empty handed.  That’s how I and many true Chicagoans felt that day.