Western Courier

Issue date: 10/5/09 Section: Opinion

Skylar Patridge/cartoonist

It was a spectacle filled with sheer emotion as it was announced Friday that Rio de Janeiro would be the host city for the 2016 summer Olympics, taking the spot over other major cities, such as Madrid, Tokyo, and perhaps most notably, Chicago. There was laughter. There was yelling. There seemed to be a universal sense that a decision had truly been made for the common good.

The WC began thinking critically at this point, formulating serious questions. What does Rio have other than Carnivale, Jujitsu and nude beaches?

Furthermore, we wondered: Where's Kanye West when you really need him?

West should have said "I'm sorry Rio de Janeiro, but Chicago is one of the greatest cities in the world."

The last time the Olympics were hosted by the United States was in 1996. O.J. Simpson was on trial for the alleged murder of his wife. He was proven not guilty, but it didn't end there. O.J. later wrote a book entitled "If I Did It," describing hypothetically how he would have murdered his wife.

Now that the United States has been denied the bid to host the summer games, the WC hypothetically describes the future "If We Would've Won It." Much like Simpson, our glove didn't fit, but if it had, this is what would've happened.

Chapter 1: More Jobs

The 2016 Summer Olympics took many unemployed citizens and launched them into the work force. The consensus from the very beginning was that the city had to be prepared; athletic facilities had to be built, secured and ready to accommodate millions of attendees. The work force boomed in the areas of construction, concessions and security.

Chapter 2: A Boosted Economy

With jobs on the market and money to spend, Chicago reaped many benefits as a city looking to profit from the event. Furthermore, the large influx of people visiting from around the globe sparked consumer interest. It was apparent from the very beginning that you don't plan to visit Chicago without spending cold, hard cash.

Chapter 3: An Enlightened Community

The crime rate among teens in Chicago sat at the top of the list among major U.S. cities. The Olympics seemed to create an escape for the youth of the community as they gathered together to share something that may only come once in a lifetime - a universal sense of community. People came together from every part of the city for a common cause - to be a part of something truly historical and to enjoy some quality entertainment. This was a nice change of pace compared to years of teen violence and brutality that plagued the streets before the Olympic games.

Chapter 4: A Political Purging

Chicago. The City of the Corrupt. The City of Big Shoulders. The City That Works. Many citizens were afraid of where their money would be going as nose-to-the-grindstone taxpayers, speculating as to whether or not Mayor Daley would get a big cut for his long-awaited retirement. But it seemed that the many benefits brought to the city truly outweighed any past political grudges held on both sides as the city prospered all around.

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