Chicago Olympics would be good for the economy and inspire youth to be more active in sports
Chicago has hosted numerous world class and international sporting events: the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, World Cup Soccer, NBA Championship Games, the World Series, the Stanley Cup Finals, Gay Games and the Pan-American Games. What would be the impact of hosting the Olympics in our city?

"The Games would leave a lasting legacy in sports and infrastructure improvements that will be available for all to enjoy, such as the urban redevelopment in Amsterdam and Barcelona," says Rowan J. Carrol, a Chicago resident and Olympic aficionado who has attended the Olympics in Los Angeles, Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydne, and Athens. "It will be a fabulous opportunity to show off our wonderful city to international visitors."

Rick Wohlhuter completed in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics games in the 800 and 1500 meters for Team USA. He is one of the few Chicago area runners to have won an Olympic medal. "I would love to see the Olympics Games come to Chicago," he said. "Hopefully our high schools would focus more on cross country and track and field knowing that the Olympics were coming to town."

Certainly there are many questions such as how this large project is going to be paid for, security issues and any negative impact on city especially certain communities. All are valid questions that need to be addressed, but let's look at seven positive effects Chicagoans would enjoy if our city was chosen.

1. Create a global sporting legacy for Chicago
Already a professional sport powerhouse, Chicago will become known as one of the world centers of sport. New venues will allow us to experience sports, like track and field, swimming and rowing among many others, before and after the games through participation and by hosting events.

2. Act as catalyst for widespread urban revitalization
Situating the temporary stadium Washington Park will help revitalize a beautiful part of the city. The Athletes' Village will create mixed-use community right on the lakefront, again acting as a central point for improvement of an entire neighborhood on the South Side. It will also act as a magnet for attracting more people to live in the Loop.

3. Generate economic benefits before the Games
The construction of new venues and infrastructure improvements means new jobs. Being an Olympic host city may attract domestic and international companies to open offices or even possibly move their headquarters here.

4. Generate economic benefits during the games
Chicago would host more than six million incremental tourists from around the world. Employers in the service industry will need to hire additional help to service the guests thereby creating new jobs.

5. Generate economic benefits after the Games
Tourists will come to our Olympic City in increasing numbers years after the Games to remember and relive the 2016 spectacle, see the venues, and experience Chicago firsthand.

6. Accelerate planned infrastructure improvements
Hosting the Games will fast-track key capital projects, especially transportation-related initiatives, to coincide with the Olympics.

7. Experience world-class athletics and the values of Olympic sport in our own backyard
This is our chance to see the best athletes in the world compete in our parks and stadiums, demonstrating not only the most amazing level of competition the world has to offer, but also the values that make the Olympic movement singular-fair play, friendship, hope, inspiration, and joy in effort.

The games are nine years away. That means most of our Olympic athletes who would compete in the 2016 games are currently in high school and college. It would be wonderful if the spirit of the games could inspire and motivate our youth to compete at the world-class level and perhaps win an Olympic medal right in their hometown.

Mark Buciak's running career was initially inspired by Frank Shorter's 1972 Olympic Marathon victory. Since then Mark has completed 51 marathons including the last 28 consecutive Boston Marathons. Mark can be reached at theroadtoboston@rcn.com or (773) 307-0033.