Toronto 2024 Olympic Bid

[InTheBeach]

Ask someone from Montreal that question. They just paid off their games a few years ago.

This is pure folly. Let's have a real vision for our city, one that is based on the lives of the people who live here.

[ladyscraper]

Originally Posted by InTheBeach

Ask someone from Montreal that question. They just paid off their games a few years ago.

This is pure folly. Let's have a real vision for our city, one that is based on the lives of the people who live here.

100% agreed. The Olympics are nothing but an extremely expensive quick piece of glory that people forget about mere weeks after they happen.

[OEincorparated]

I haven't forgotten about Montreal, it will forever be remembered as being a Olympic host city and is probably the biggest reason why Montreal got a baseball team.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by OEincorparated

I haven't forgotten about Montreal, it will forever be remembered as being a Olympic host city and is probably the biggest reason why Montreal got a baseball team.

First Olympic City to be in debt ... perhaps their own fault rather than the fault of the Olympics.

Ironically, their baseball team was named the Expos, not the Olympics.

Oh and where are the Expos now?

Cheers, m

[htpwn]

Originally Posted by allurban

First Olympic City to be in debt ... perhaps their own fault rather than the fault of the Olympics.

Ironically, their baseball team was named the Expos, not the Olympics.

Oh and where are the Expos now?

Cheers, m

So, what you are saying is that if we get the Olympics, Rob Ford will get his NFL team, only to see it relocate to some US city years down the road?

[Gerrad]

Originally Posted by allurban

First Olympic City to be in debt ... perhaps their own fault rather than the fault of the Olympics.

Ironically, their baseball team was named the Expos, not the Olympics.

Oh and where are the Expos now?

Cheers, m

That's because Montreal got their team after hosting the World's Fair (fair was in 67, Expos were born in 69) not the Olympics.

The Olympics just read like one big politician circle jerk. And frankly the cache from the games doesn't really exist anymore: i.e. Atlanta. They do nothing to actually improve living in a city and maybe the only net benefits are some press (which can be found elsewhere) and a bit of construction (that would occur anyway).

Not to mention the logistical nightmares (traffic, security etc.). There's enough going on in the city of Toronto that the Olympics really aren't worth the extra hassles.


If this were 1989, I'd say go for it but the city has matured so much since then that I'd now give it a pass.

[LEAFS FANATIC]

Originally Posted by Gerrad

If this were 1989, I'd say go for it but the city has matured so much since then that I'd now give it a pass.

Really? How so?

The city STILL has decrepid roads.

The city STILL has inadequate highways for a city with a population of 6 million plus in the GTA.

The city still has a pathetic subway system for a city with a population of 6 million plus in the GTA


And there's more....

[Gerrad]

Originally Posted by LEAFS FANATIC

Really? How so?

The city STILL has decrepid roads.

The city STILL has inadequate highways for a city with a population of 6 million plus in the GTA.

The city still has a pathetic subway system for a city with a population of 6 million plus in the GTA


And there's more....

In 1989, Toronto wasn't dealing with the same growing pains. It was an emerging player and an Olympic games would have cemented the grasp for international recognition. In 20 years the city has received that recognition and without an Olympic games. But I don't really get what your response has to do with my statement.

Keep in kind that the transit system is adequate and even well served for the population of the city of Toronto proper. If people really want big lawns and suburban living at its finest, then it's really not the fault of the city that they choose to commute 2 hours a day to get it. People in the GTA have chosen sprawl they weren't forced into it.

[Filip]

Interesting quote from a member on GamesBids

"Aubut is totally on board for a Toronto bid, Ford and McGuinty have kept the lines of communication open and are working together. If there are individuals that believe nothing is being planned and in the works, then your sadly mistaken. Most believed Aubut would totally be anti-Ontario (Toronto) and would be all pro-Quebec City 2022, well I can tell you that as much as Quebec City wants to bid for those games, the direction of the COC is focused on a Summer Olympics in Toronto. This shouldn't be much of a surprise to most. Stadium preparations are already underway as preliminary studies are taking place. The Games will be modeled around Toronto's waterfront again, this is 99.99% confirmed."

We're getting our waterfront bid again, ladies and gentlemen.. Hopefully this time it doesn't end up in sheer disappointment.

[LEAFS FANATIC]

Originally Posted by Gerrad

In 1989, Toronto wasn't dealing with the same growing pains. It was an emerging player and an Olympic games would have cemented the grasp for international recognition. In 20 years the city has received that recognition and without an Olympic games. But I don't really get what your response has to do with my statement.

Keep in kind that the transit system is adequate and even well served for the population of the city of Toronto proper. If people really want big lawns and suburban living at its finest, then it's really not the fault of the city that they choose to commute 2 hours a day to get it. People in the GTA have chosen sprawl they weren't forced into it.

I live downtown and can say that public transportaion in this city sucks. I said nothing about the outlying 416 and 905 suburban areas. There is no way a city of this size should have a subway system that only has an east-west and a north-south line. Also, a city of this size should have a rail link to the airport. Period. All I was eluding to is the fact that with an Olympics in Toronto in 2020, all these projects would be realized and it would benefit the city for the next 100 years, easily.

[Gerrad]

Originally Posted by LEAFS FANATIC

I live downtown and can say that public transportaion in this city sucks. I said nothing about the outlying 416 and 905 suburban areas. There is no way a city of this size should have a subway system that only has an east-west and a north-south line. Also, a city of this size should have a rail link to the airport. Period. All I was eluding to is the fact that with an Olympics in Toronto in 2020, all these projects would be realized and it would benefit the city for the next 100 years, easily.

Those projects should be realized without the Olympic games. They're just common sense.

[LEAFS FANATIC]

Originally Posted by Gerrad

Those projects should be realized without the Olympic games. They're just common sense.

Olympic Games increase the chances of such projects being realized. Otherwise, they remain nothing more than proposals....

[Filip]

The Olympic Games assure us these projects will be completed in 7 years. Without them add 15-30 years.

Case in point: see Waterfront.

[Marcanadian]

Same with the Pan Am's. At least with them, we'll get our rail link to the airport and the West Donlands will be done.

[Filip]

Originally Posted by Marcanadian

Same with the Pan Am's. At least with them, we'll get our rail link to the airport and the West Donlands will be done.

A few bid slogan ideas: "Bringing the Games to the World", "The World's Games".. Basically they should really pump up the fact that Toronto is such a multicultural city with representation in good numbers from almost every corner of the planet, that essentially awarding Toronto the games means that the games are going to be global.

It's this sort of emotional tugging that works so well with certain bids. If anyone followed Rio's 2016 bid, it was bound to win. Their passionate and emotional bid videos and presentations made up for the lacklustre infrastructure, Olympic master plan and severe crime problems.

Toronto has that advantage over the potential competitors in 2020. Both Tokyo and Rome are very monocultural cities and if the COC plays their cards right, showcasing Toronto's diversity and cultural heritage could sway votes from the lucrative continents. As far as I understand, the COC has Latin America's and the Caribbean votes assured. The Asian votes would be fairly easy to get, and if Mayor Ford doesn't open his mouth like Lastman and insult every black person on the planet, we might have ourselves a winning bid.

Another point would be the central location of the games and its compact bid. Tokyo and Rome do not have that luxury. Tokyo would have to build their Olympic complex 30km from the heart of the city, ditto for Rome. This isn't Beijing where you can simply demolish vast swaths of the city to build an Olympic complex. Toronto's waterfront location a stone's throw from the downtown core will leave a legacy that will keep the IOC members drooling. The president during the last Toronto bid said he has never seen such a perfect location for the games; too bad politics got in the way.

Just food for thought..

[flesh_is_weak]

Originally Posted by Filip

The Olympic Games assure us these projects will be completed in 7 years. Without them add 15-30 years.

Case in point: see Waterfront.

An Expo would do the same

[blacktrojan3921]

Originally Posted by flesh_is_weak

An Expo would do the same

But Canada won't likely be getting one anytime soon.

[metroboi_nay]

Harper is against Expo's.. everyone was on board but him when Toronto was bidding. So count that out til 2015. If he doesn't get voted back in.

I'd love to see the Olympics come here. Yes they aren't cheap, but a lot of good has come out of them though. Vancouver, thankfully now has a subway line into the city from the airport (that isn't a cheap build, and I think Royal Bank of Scotland paid for most of it, if not all).

Toronto is in need of a subway line to the airport. Long overdue.
There's no way it'll be done by 2015 for the PanAm Games unless they start today and work 24/7. 2020 is viable.

[AndrewJM3D]

Originally Posted by OEincorparated

I haven't forgotten about Montreal, it will forever be remembered as being a Olympic host city and is probably the biggest reason why Montreal got a baseball team.

Perhaps, but I don't think if you were to ask anybody around the world what Montreal is known for the Olympics to be anywhere in their mind. Personally I love watching the Olympics, and i would love to go to one, but I'd rather not waste the time, resources, and money to host them here. Give us an Expo/Worlds Fair instead.

[AndrewJM3D]

Originally Posted by metroboi_nay

Toronto is in need of a subway line to the airport. Long overdue.
There's no way it'll be done by 2015 for the PanAm Games unless they start today and work 24/7. 2020 is viable.

You do know that we're getting a GO train line U/C right now to the airport.