Comments on: Why Chicago Won’t Host The Olympics http://hirlpoo.com/why-chicago-wont-host-the-olympics_105/ Writings & Photography of Derek Dysart, some dude you've never heard of. Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:17:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Derek http://hirlpoo.com/why-chicago-wont-host-the-olympics_105/comment-page-1/#comment-419 Derek Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:36:57 +0000 http://www.hirlpoo.com/index.php/why-chicago-wont-host-the-olympics_105/#comment-419 Maybe a better way to put it is that Chicago has a long way to go to be able to host the Olympics. Yes, the Marathon is a private event, but it definitely showed some weaknesses in the city's infrastructure. All said and done, one of the things that annoys me about Chicago is you stand in line *everywhere*. I can't imagine packing a couple million more people into the greater Chicago area and trying to do anything. Maybe a better way to put it is that Chicago has a long way to go to be able to host the Olympics. Yes, the Marathon is a private event, but it definitely showed some weaknesses in the city’s infrastructure.

All said and done, one of the things that annoys me about Chicago is you stand in line *everywhere*. I can’t imagine packing a couple million more people into the greater Chicago area and trying to do anything.

]]> By: Eliezer Appleton http://hirlpoo.com/why-chicago-wont-host-the-olympics_105/comment-page-1/#comment-418 Eliezer Appleton Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:22:15 +0000 http://www.hirlpoo.com/index.php/why-chicago-wont-host-the-olympics_105/#comment-418 I read those same suggestions from the race medical director before the marathon. The one thing that strikes me as odd is that he suggests drinking enough fluids to maintain your baseline body weight, but not to increase from your baseline weight. So... I'm supposed to bring along a bathroom scale and weigh myself periodically along the course??? As for the Olympics, I definitely hope this doesn't hurt our chances to 2016. Yes, they messed up with the amount of hydration that was available and that is unfortunately. They also should have had more EMTs and ambulances available, not just a contingency plan to call in the suburbs. But I also think that one misstep, even a major misstep in a major event, shouldn't disqualify the city from hosting another major event like the Olympics. Let's also remember that the marathon is a private event that is coordinated with the city. The Olympics would be run by the city itself. The shortcomings of one group shouldn't necessarily be reflected in the opportunities for the other. See you in Grand Rapids! 26.2 or bust! I read those same suggestions from the race medical director before the marathon. The one thing that strikes me as odd is that he suggests drinking enough fluids to maintain your baseline body weight, but not to increase from your baseline weight.

So… I’m supposed to bring along a bathroom scale and weigh myself periodically along the course???

As for the Olympics, I definitely hope this doesn’t hurt our chances to 2016. Yes, they messed up with the amount of hydration that was available and that is unfortunately. They also should have had more EMTs and ambulances available, not just a contingency plan to call in the suburbs.

But I also think that one misstep, even a major misstep in a major event, shouldn’t disqualify the city from hosting another major event like the Olympics.

Let’s also remember that the marathon is a private event that is coordinated with the city. The Olympics would be run by the city itself. The shortcomings of one group shouldn’t necessarily be reflected in the opportunities for the other.

See you in Grand Rapids! 26.2 or bust!

]]> By: lifestudent http://hirlpoo.com/why-chicago-wont-host-the-olympics_105/comment-page-1/#comment-415 lifestudent Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:15:29 +0000 http://www.hirlpoo.com/index.php/why-chicago-wont-host-the-olympics_105/#comment-415 It looks like I wasnt far behind you. When I got to Jackson & Halsted it was barricaded...but looking down I could see the street was lined with spectators and there were some runners heading that direction. You ran around the barracade and kept going???? HA. Well I followed the re-route, partly because I was totally confused and partly because it was a secret blessing that they were saving me those extra miles. But this is where it gets interesting - after I walked a little over 2 miles to Grant Park and then a bit more to chip removal...they told me I had to go cross the finish line. So I walked another few blocks, crossed, and came back to chip removal. They posted my time as "final" and are including me in their numbers of "finishers". There were tons of people being forced to do the same thing :) Interesting how we all have different outcomes! It looks like I wasnt far behind you. When I got to Jackson & Halsted it was barricaded…but looking down I could see the street was lined with spectators and there were some runners heading that direction. You ran around the barracade and kept going???? HA. Well I followed the re-route, partly because I was totally confused and partly because it was a secret blessing that they were saving me those extra miles. But this is where it gets interesting – after I walked a little over 2 miles to Grant Park and then a bit more to chip removal…they told me I had to go cross the finish line. So I walked another few blocks, crossed, and came back to chip removal. They posted my time as “final” and are including me in their numbers of “finishers”. There were tons of people being forced to do the same thing :) Interesting how we all have different outcomes!

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