Olympics in Chicago?

    Chicago is among the sites bidding to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Not Chicago supports the bids submitted by venues other than Chicago because we would very much prefer that the Olympics be held somewhere other than Chicago -- anywhere but Chicago. The Olympics are an annoying and expensive nuisance, and we hope that the United States Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee will see the wisdom of sending the 2016 Summer Olympics somewhere else. Chicago already enjoys the distinction of being the only city ever to have had an Olympics taken away -- Chicago was spared the ordeal of hosting the 1904 Summer Olympics when they were moved to St. Louis to coincide with the 1904 World's Fair. No other city is as well suited to not hosting the Olympics as Chicago.

Other Potential Venues

    Many other great cities have indicated their willingness to host the 2016 Summer Games. If the Olympics must be held in the United States, Los Angeles would be an excellent place for them. The Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games (SCCOG, rhymes with "smog") has put together a strong bid on the city's behalf. Los Angeles's superior weather and remoteness from Chicago would make it an ideal venue for the Summer Olympics. San Francisco is another potential venue within the United States. Although the San Francisco 2016 Bid Committee wisely withdrew its bid in late 2006, it may not be too late to resurrect the bid (or even draft the city involuntarily!) in order to avoid having to hold the Games in Chicago. Several other world cities have applied to host the 2016 Games. Any one of them would be preferable to Chicago as a venue for the Summer Olympics.

What Happens Next?

    The USOC submitted Chicago's nomination to the IOC in April 2007, and in September 2007 Chicago formally submitted its application. The IOC is expected to make its decision in October 2009. In the meantime, make your voice heard -- tell your elected representatives that you do not want them to bring the Olympics to Chicago in 2016 or ever. Bookmark this site and check back often for updates. And support the efforts of Not Chicago by linking from your website or blog to www.notchicago.com.