26 replies to this topic

[brianb0518]

In the spirit of the Olympics and out of boredom I would like to pose this question; If Charlotte were to host the Summer Olympics, what existing facilities would be utilized and for which event? If a new facility is required, like an Olympic Stadium, where would it be located and what would its post Olympic use be. Below is a list of events for the 2012 Olympics and possible current facility.


Archery:
Athletics (track and field):
Badminton:
Basketball: Time Warner Cable Arena
Boxing:
Canoe/kayak: (Whitewater): US National White Water Center
Canoe/Kayak: (Flatwater): Mountain Island Lake or Lake Norman
Road cycling:
Track cycling:
Mountain bike:
Skateboarding:
BMX racing:
Diving:
Equestrianisn:
Fencing:
Soccer:
Gymnastics:
Handball:
Field hockey:
Judo
Modern pentathlon:
Rowing:
Sailing:
Shooting:
Swimming:
Synchronized swimming:
Table tennis: Convention Center
Taekwondo: Convention Center
Tennis:
Triathlon:
Volleyball (Indoor): Halton Arena
Beach Volleyball:
Water polo:
Weightlifting: Convention Center
Wrestling (Graeco-Roman and Freestyle): Convention Center

[InitialD]

Swimming:
Synchronized swimming:

Where was that place that Michael Phelps competed at last year here in Charlotte?

Mountain bike: Sherman branch?
Skateboarding: Grayson skatepark
Tennis: The Palisades
Rowing: Lake Norman (where they already have the Dragon boat races!)
Sailing: Lake Norman
Soccer: BofA - though in reality there would probably be more stadiums used, possibly at Clemson, or one of the ACC schools in RDU. Maybe even UNC Charlotte if it was a very small match.

Track & field stuff could be split between BofA, Memorial Stadium, the (future) UNC Charlotte football stadium, and soccer stadium. Also, JCSU stadium. I don't know if it would be possible to have a track placed in BofA.

[krazeeboi]

It's nice to envision where events would be held, but more importantly, where would all of these people stay and how would they get around? I know it's quite obvious, but I have to say it: Charlotte is not qualified to host the Olympics and won't be for some time.

[brianb0518]

krazeeboi, on 16 February 2010 - 11:08 AM, said:

It's nice to envision where events would be held, but more importantly, where would all of these people stay and how would they get around? I know it's quite obvious, but I have to say it: Charlotte is not qualified to host the Olympics and won't be for some time.

Taking the step of assuming Charlotte were qualified, could we use the Atlanta model and construct a new olympic stadium for use as an MLB stadium. Also, i think a new aquatics center would be in order for the swimming events

[Urbanity]

I think the Atlanta model (at least in name) is something we would want to avoid due to perception issues with the over-commercialization of those games.  I know this isn't what you meant, but I think Atlanta's handling of the games actually hurts Charlotte's chances regardless of our ability to host (which I agree with krazeeboi - is something that is not in the near future).

I rather see Charlotte go for a National Political Convention, Superbowl or World Cup to be honest.

Edited by Urbanity, 16 February 2010 - 01:33 PM.

[dbull75]

Yea, I don't see Charlotte or any city in the Southeast (except maybe someone like Miami) getting the Olympics for a LONG time. Too many other places on this earth and as Urbanity pointed out Atlanta hurts our chances because they just had them in 1996. I too would LOVE to see the Super Bowl here. However, that wouldn't happen until a new stadium, with a roof, is built. Since we aren't located in a year-round warm climate a roof is needed to host (NJ/NYC is talked about as a possible host with the new Giants stadium, but I still consider that a long shot, even if it is NYC). I would imagine that it wouldn't be before 2020 until that could be a discussion. Charlotte is on the short list for the 2012 Democratic convention. So, that is certainly a strong possibility.

[Forrest]

Lake Norman would be a great venue.  And the Harris hole in Quail Hollow could finally be utilized for something.

I concur that ATL left a bad aftertaste for many. And the judging scandal at SLC was a drag too.  We are on the outs for awhile when it comes to Olympics.

[brianb0518]

Forrest, on 16 February 2010 - 04:13 PM, said:

Lake Norman would be a great venue.  And the Harris hole in Quail Hollow could finally be utilized for something.

I concur that ATL left a bad aftertaste for many. And the judging scandal at SLC was a drag too.  We are on the outs for awhile when it comes to Olympics.

i agree with everything being said, but can't a guy dream knowing all to well the realities associated with it? i am simply curious about the infrastructure not the politics and realities...

[cityboi]

I think the olympics will stick to the much larger cities. Even after Atlanta hosted the summer olympics in 1996, some say that was a mistake and that it wasnt organized like in the larger cities like Los Angeles. I think for a city to qaulify, its has to be a "world class city" that has venues to host the olympics and the city must have enough hotel rooms and enough flight connections. Also the city needs to have enough attractions for people who are staying in town for the olympics. Its a very tall order for most cities. Its not out of the question in the future. I think its a possibility for Charlotte but it will be a very very long time. I'm 31 and it may not happen in my life time.

Edited by cityboi, 20 February 2010 - 02:25 PM.

[Temeteron]

It's hard to believe that the City of Charlotte is actually thinking of hosting the Olympics!  So exciting

[The Escapists]

I have no real basis to say this - but is it possible Greece's economy tanked because they didn't get enough return on the Athen's Olympics? Seems like a pretty big gamble to build facilities for the Olympics (which in my opinion, get less and less important every time)...

[Urbanity]

^  No.  Going by this article,  the 2004 Olympics cost them about $11b in 2009 dollars.  Add $1.2b for security and even throw in another $2b for infrastructure improvements and you have about a $15b cost.  

That may seem like a lot (and I agree it is) but compared to their overall debt of $382b at 2009 you can see it was not the Olympics that caused or even majorly contributed to the crisis.


Back to Charlotte though - I think the Olympcs is a great dream, but not even a feasible one just for an attempt at a bid for at least 25-30 years going simply by the rotation of continents and other U.S. cities that already have commitments to have bids in for the next couple of Olympics.

[nonillogical]

I can imagine the eventuality of a Superbowl in Charlotte one day, but not the Olympics. And I'm fine with that.

[bchris02]

The Olympics will NOT happen in Charlotte.  Not after the fiasco that was the 1996 Atlanta games.  Charlotte is not only too small, but also doesn't have the cultural prominence cities that usually host the summer games do.

Charlotte should try for the Superbowl instead.  That is a much more attainable dream.

[rworkman09]

I was only 10 when the Olympics were in Atlanta, so I don't remember much about them. What happened in Atlanta that was so bad (other than the Eric Rudolph bombs)?

[dbull75]

One of the things that I remembered was everyone was up in arms about it being over-commercialized. Coke was the official drink of the games. Then there was the transportation and overcrowding. The other thing was all the jokes about it being the "redneck games". I'll always remember the bombing though. A good friend of mine actually witnessed it, luckily injury free. All that being said, I think Charlotte would have a lot of work to do to make it happen. Definitely more than what Atlanta had to go through. Agreed that the Super Bowl is a much more logical and better possibility. The Panthers have recently hired a consultant to study a makeover for BofA Stadium (which would be required to land the game). I think Richardson being pretty tight with the NFL commissioner may help.

Edited by dbull75, 02 November 2011 - 06:34 AM.

[cltbwimob]

Perhaps Charlotte could go for something like the Pan Am games...along with a Super Bowl and a World Cup game.  Indianapolis hosted the Pan Am games in 1987.

[caterpillar2]

_{I think that Charlotte could hold events but not host the olympics. We could have soccer games like Birmingham, Alabama did in recent past years or perhaps whitewater rafting, etc. I believe that if Charlotte was closer to the mountains and the mountains were larger, we would have an excellent chance.  Munich hosted the olympics in the seventies and we are of similar population.  Of course their advantage was the alps ot their backdoor.}

[Urbanity]

rworkman09, on 01 November 2011 - 08:26 PM, said:

I was only 10 when the Olympics were in Atlanta, so I don't remember much about them. What happened in Atlanta that was so bad (other than the Eric Rudolph bombs)?

Dbull75 pretty much answered this, though I wanted to add, that the Atlanta games were the first ever that the IOC president did not label as the best games ever at the conclusion.  I beleive a good deal of this had to do with the crassness which many international  attendees viewed the commercialization of the games as DBull75 mentioned.

and before anyone takes a notion to think I'm trashing Atlanta decides to but in about this - I;m not.  It did happen and frankly if there was one U.S. coty most likely to copy Atlanta's style of over commercializing something - it would be Charlotte;

[southslider]

I also recall Atlanta fudging their average summer temps as well to deceive the IOC.  Seems Charlotte has comparable weather.