Boston developed similar cold feet about its bid for the 2024 Olympics on Monday, which means LA is most likely the new frontrunner for the Games.
I love it.
First of all, before anyone thinks traffic would become paralyzed here, know this: when Los Angeles hosted the Olympics in 1984, the same fear occurred, and it was misguided. Angelenos handled much like we did for both carmageddons – by listening. Here’s how the LA Times reported it back in ’84:
Years of warnings and intense preparations apparently paid off Friday as a predicted paralyzing combination of Olympic and commuter traffic failed to develop on the busiest day yet of the Games. Instead, drivers enjoyed another day of free-flowing freeway traffic across Southern California. “Black Friday,” transportation officials smugly pointed out to reporters, had become “Good Friday.” The driving public had apparently listened to the traffic congestion warnings and predictions.
While many recent Olympics were economic disasters for their host cities (check out this trippy slideshow), Los Angeles is still making money from 1984, because it wisely used profits to create an endowment called the LA84 Foundation. It funds youth sporting events and facilities, and pays coaches and buys equipment for LA high schools after budget cuts destroy their programs. $214 million have been spent so far. LA is the best.
I love the Olympics, and I hope we get it here. I’ll go to every event I can. Thanks, Boston.
