Who Thought Hosting The Olympics Would Be A Good Idea?
It sure as hell wasn't me. This is my first post on this particular blog, and I was planning on using it to tell you a little bit about me. I figure if I expect you to read or even give a damn what my opinions are, you should at least get to know a little bit about me to put those opinions in perspective.
But, as will happen, I changed my mind because I wanted to get this out now. In my opinion this whole idea of hosting the games again was the brainchild of politicians who are more eager to leave a legacy than they care about this city.
I like the Olympics okay, but I think the IOC is a grossly corrupt organization. I was around for the party in 1988. I was a few months past my 18th birthday and the city was in party mode. People were here from all over the world, there were pins everywhere you looked, and there was an almost electric atmosphere everywhere you went. The downtown core was really alive with medal presentation ceremonies in Olympic Plaza every night complete with a laser show being projected onto a few office towers.
But, and this is a big but, the world was far different now than it was in 1988. Things that were a great idea then, well, they might not be so great these days.
Let's look at some facts here shall we? For starters these are the games that nobody wants. Cities have been dropping out left, right, and center because they want nothing to do with the costs involved, the security concerns, and perhaps because they want nothing to do with a corrupt organization like the IOC. So, what Calgary "wins" the games because no other city wanted to bid? Wow, what a high honour.
Next, the price-tag. In case nobody has been paying attention this province and city have gone through some rough economic times the last few years thanks to the drop in oil prices. It doesn't help that the Notley regime seem to be doing it's level best to saddle Albertan's with an ever increasing provincial debt, and driving away investment with it's carbon tax scheme.
This city has also been playing fast and loose with taxpayer money for far too long as it is. A bid would cost in the neighbourhood of $5 million. How many cops could be put on the street for that kind of money? Funding assistance isn't even guaranteed by the other levels of government and based on Giuseppi Ceci's recent budget the funds won't be there for the city to go ahead with this fiasco.
This should have been an election issue, but there wasn't a lot made of it. The people of Calgary deserve to be heard on something of this magnitude. That a plebiscite on the issue needs to go to debate is ludicrous. They might be costly and an inconvenience for some, but they serve a vital purpose in civic politics.
When a plebiscite is held on this issue I will be voting no. In the meantime I plan on having my voice heard on this issue through this blog, and by letting my elected officials know in no uncertain terms that I am against an Olympic bid. My friends I urge you to take the time to contact your alderm sorry, councillor to make your views known. Send Herr Mayor an e-mail and tell him you don't want the city to be spending good money in a poor manner.
Send me your comments on this and tell me what you think.
D.B.C.
But, as will happen, I changed my mind because I wanted to get this out now. In my opinion this whole idea of hosting the games again was the brainchild of politicians who are more eager to leave a legacy than they care about this city.
I like the Olympics okay, but I think the IOC is a grossly corrupt organization. I was around for the party in 1988. I was a few months past my 18th birthday and the city was in party mode. People were here from all over the world, there were pins everywhere you looked, and there was an almost electric atmosphere everywhere you went. The downtown core was really alive with medal presentation ceremonies in Olympic Plaza every night complete with a laser show being projected onto a few office towers.
But, and this is a big but, the world was far different now than it was in 1988. Things that were a great idea then, well, they might not be so great these days.
Let's look at some facts here shall we? For starters these are the games that nobody wants. Cities have been dropping out left, right, and center because they want nothing to do with the costs involved, the security concerns, and perhaps because they want nothing to do with a corrupt organization like the IOC. So, what Calgary "wins" the games because no other city wanted to bid? Wow, what a high honour.
Next, the price-tag. In case nobody has been paying attention this province and city have gone through some rough economic times the last few years thanks to the drop in oil prices. It doesn't help that the Notley regime seem to be doing it's level best to saddle Albertan's with an ever increasing provincial debt, and driving away investment with it's carbon tax scheme.
This city has also been playing fast and loose with taxpayer money for far too long as it is. A bid would cost in the neighbourhood of $5 million. How many cops could be put on the street for that kind of money? Funding assistance isn't even guaranteed by the other levels of government and based on Giuseppi Ceci's recent budget the funds won't be there for the city to go ahead with this fiasco.
This should have been an election issue, but there wasn't a lot made of it. The people of Calgary deserve to be heard on something of this magnitude. That a plebiscite on the issue needs to go to debate is ludicrous. They might be costly and an inconvenience for some, but they serve a vital purpose in civic politics.
When a plebiscite is held on this issue I will be voting no. In the meantime I plan on having my voice heard on this issue through this blog, and by letting my elected officials know in no uncertain terms that I am against an Olympic bid. My friends I urge you to take the time to contact your alderm sorry, councillor to make your views known. Send Herr Mayor an e-mail and tell him you don't want the city to be spending good money in a poor manner.
Send me your comments on this and tell me what you think.
D.B.C.
Put it to a vote, it’s our money and our city.
ReplyDelete