(Chicago) As
members of the U.S. Olympic Committee
meet with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley today, the Metropolitan Planning
Council, a nonprofit planning advocate for the Chicago region, issued the following statement,
which urges the city to form a committee to carefully weigh the goals,
plausibility, feasibility, costs and benefits of hosting the Olympics
before
submitting a proposal to the U.S.
Olympics Committee. If, after carefully weighing these factors, the city’s
Olympics committee determines to submit a proposal, MPC further recommends five “Rules of the
Games” that should guide planning and development for the Olympics.
Metropolitan Planning Council
Olympic “Rules of the
Games”
First, before initiating the process to
develop an Olympic proposal, a committee should be formed, with business and
civic leadership, to answer the following questions:
-
What is the goal for hosting the Olympics? Is it
something that will justify the extensive cost, effort and disruption? The
goal must be stated explicitly.
- Do we have good reason to believe that Chicago, or the United States, can
gain the necessary international support in four years to be selected as the
Olympic site for 2016?
- Can Chicago provide a stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies and
track and field events that is large enough for these events, has a viable use
after the Olympics, and can be paid for without tax dollars?
- Do the benefits of pursuing an Olympic bid outweigh the costs?
Assuming satisfactory answers to the above
four questions, the following “rules” should guide the planning and development
for the Olympics:
Rule 1: FOLLOW AN OPEN PLANNING AND
REVIEW PROCESS
- 1a. Follow the framework and existing recommendations
of regional and local plans that emphasize redevelopment, mixed use, transit
access, walkability, and sensible growth.
- 1b. Create a clear plan that covers the criteria of
the International Olympic Committee and meets the needs of the Chicago
community.
- 1c. Follow an open planning and review process that
includes business and civic groups and community residents.
- 1d. Build broad support. Although most of the Olympic venues must
necessarily be within or near Chicago to facilitate movement of the athletes
and visitors, planning and governance should include tri-state and regional
members to form a plan with the broadest support and guidance.
Rule 2: DEVELOP A PLAN THAT PROVIDES FOR LEGACIES
- 2a. To the greatest extent possible, identify
existing facilities (with or without modification) or seek private sources for
development of major improvements (stadiums, housing, etc.)
- 2b. Public transportation improvements to help move
people during the Games should be based on plans that already have been
developed by city and regional planning agencies.
- 2c. Structures and infrastructure created for the Olympics, if publicly
funded, must be shown as real, viable needs of the community.
Rule 3: DESIGN STRUCTURES AND SYSTEMS BASED ON GREEN PRINCIPLES THAT
IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND ACCESSIBILTY OF THE CITY AND REGION
- 3a. Develop plans/systems to reduce pollution.
- 3b. Focus on mobility improvements. Improving and
expanding public transportation systems will be essential to manage the great
influx of people to the city for the Games; and improving and ensuring the use
of public transit, bicycling, pedestrian and waterway systems (instead of the
automobile) will have lasting benefits for the city and region.
- 3c. Use the opportunity to create parks and open
spaces that will serve the needs of the Games and the visitors, as well as
have lasting benefits for the people of Chicago ;
- 3d. Follow sustainable/green architecture and engineering guidelines.
Rule 4: IDENTIFY PUBLIC SUPPORT
- 4a. Ensure that life will continue for residents
during the buildup to and during the Games.
- 4b. Provide for a safe and secure experience for the tens of thousands of
athletes, coaches, journalists, workers, and volunteers, as well as the
residents and workers in the city.
Rule 5: OUTLINE A PLAN FOR
WINNING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT