Toronto?

[LatinXTC]

No one needs the Olympics. Its the want aspect. The Olympics come with a deadline something we need to get rapid transit built in this city.

The sad truth is that in some cases cities won't be pushing for improved roads and public transportation until they're hosting an event like the Olympics. It shouldn't have to be that way.

[MisterSG1]

No one needs the Olympics. Its the want aspect. The Olympics come with a deadline something we need to get rapid transit built in this city.

I would like to believe that, but if it comes to building a metro, considering that I've been following the Spadina Subway extension way back when it was approved in 2005....and it's still two years away speaks volumes, with how slow the progress of going through EAs, and construction and what not, as well as dealing with the NIMBYs, If the century old "Downtown Relief Line" (I really do not like that term by the way because it's not specific enough) finally does get approved because of an awarded bid for 2024, do you honestly think that the downtown line will be from late 2017 to when the Olympics begin in 2024.

So if we can't have a subway realistically done in time, for sure, the athletes and IOC elitists will get everywhere by "Olympic Lanes", spectators, and consider at least 70,000 or so of them going for Opening/Closing Ceremonies as well as Athletics events, obviously having the stadium and aquatics center next to the subway system seems like something that is a must. I honestly think since not having a rapid transit line that can easily transport you to these stadiums, wherever they may be, the only sensible solution will be to build an "Olympic Park" of the aquatics and stadium right next to the "Downsview Park" station that is currently under construction. Having the centerpiece to the games up there in the middle of nowhere isn't exactly ideal, but I think it's the only way we could do it right now, would look bad for showcasing us on TV, it would almost be kind of like holding a Detroit olympics of the 1980s with using the Silverdome as the olympic stadium.

If you want to revisit using the Port Lands like in 2008, even from that plan, what was the plan to get spectators to and from the Port Lands? Tons and tons of TTC buses won't do the trick, you'll have to do much better than that.

[FYI]

Lmfao! :-D Love those "rings"!!

[Dakooo]

You lost your credibility in my eyes when you said three lines. Three week party, Corrupt and 20 billion dollars. There all completely wrong for different reasons.

[ofan]

The plan in 2008 was an extension of the Go Train east of Union Station to the Port Lands using mostly pre-existing rail lines.

[mistercorporate]

LRT corridors already reserved in Portlands though funding isn't approved for all the EA's and construction yet as there are other higher priority projects. An Olympic deadline would bump this up, way up on the priority list. I'm just glad people have had the foresight to keep the corridors open and the land reserved for a future Olympics/Expo.

[MisterSG1]

LRT corridors already reserved in Portlands though funding isn't approved for all the EA's and construction yet as there are other higher priority projects. An Olympic deadline would bump this up, way up on the priority list. I'm just glad people have had the foresight to keep the corridors open and the land reserved for a future Olympics/Expo.

But even if an express tram, or LRT, call it what you will is built from Union (assuming it uses the same station that the 509 Harbourfront Route does) to the Portlands, how exactly does that affect the rapid transit priorities that are needed RIGHT NOW in Toronto? Did you happen to know that Line 1 in our system is busier than any subway service in The Big Apple? I am specifically speaking about the "Downtown Relief Line", which hopefully uses Queen or King as the street it generally runs parallel to. An Olympics in Toronto makes that a priority exactly? As far as I can see, no potential venues would be in the path of a DRL, so how would that make it a priority?

As for the Portlands LRT, or the Olympic LRT, it's all fine and dandy if you can actually get the portlands turned into a good community of sorts after. Things don't always work out to plan, remember how they said that knocking the Gardiner down by Leslie would revitalize that area......what revitalization is there exactly, a Canadian Tire.....that's really all that got built there.

If Toronto is actually serious about pushing through with 2024, wouldn't it be more cost effective, and also more strategic to build an Olympic Stadium and pool at Sheppard/Allen in Downsview Park?

[Tony E Loves Architecture]

In reality, Geopolitics will play against a Toronto bid for 2024 IMO. They would maybe stand a better chance bidding for 2028 instead.

[zekekelso]

Tony, I believe the phrase you are looking for us "continental rotation". Geopolitics does not mean what you think.

[mr.bernham]

Tony, I believe the phrase you are looking for us "continental rotation". Geopolitics does not mean what you think.

LOL...This

Tony Geopolitics is a term associated with struggles for global power, economic power, etc. Think China VS USA in general. Geopolitics does not refer to what nation is next inline for the Olympics.

[Tony E Loves Architecture]

LOL...This

Tony Geopolitics is a term associated with struggles for global power, economic power, etc. Think China VS USA in general. Geopolitics does not refer to what nation is next inline for the Olympics.

Ok, fair enough, but lots of people on these forums have used Geopolitics wrong then.

My point was, with Europe not hosting 2016, 2018, 2020 or 2022, it looks really likely that Europe will host 2024. Toronto could bid for 2024 as a warm up for a 2028 bid though.

[mistercorporate]

*facepalm* I'm losing faith in internet people....

Please shoot me...now.

[zekekelso]

Who says Toronto isn't one of the top cities in the world:

[LatinXTC]

LMAO Houston is 7th! Any chance you can do this by US states?

[Quaker2001]

Ok, fair enough, but lots of people on these forums have used Geopolitics wrong then.

My point was, with Europe not hosting 2016, 2018, 2020 or 2022, it looks really likely that Europe will host 2024. Toronto could bid for 2024 as a warm up for a 2028 bid though.

ge·o·pol·i·tics

noun

plural noun: geopolitics; plural noun: geo-politics

politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors.

the study of geopolitics.

So by that definition, it's actually not that far off base to use it in the context of Olympic bidding. But if you're going to throw out a statement like "Toronto will have trouble winning 2024 because, you know.. Geopolitics." That's like answering the question 'why is the sky blue' with the response "The sky is blue because, you know.. science."

Tell us HOW geopolitics will make it tough for Toronto (for which zeke already gave you the answer). Otherwise, it's an empty statement.

[MisterSG1]

Now that the Pan American Games are totally over, with all the HOV lanes being eliminated and everything being restored to the way it was before the games started. I ask all of you who went to events, as I went to events as well, was there any benefit at all to city or region in hosting the Pan American Games.....oh but we got a wonderful aquatic centre. Yeah, just try using it, unless you are a current student of UTSC, forget about using it, it costs an arm and a leg to just set foot in that place for one day.

What about the lovely Union-Pearson Express....are you kidding me, $30 bucks to go one direction on it, no thank you, I'll stick to the TTC where it costs 1/10 of the price, but I do give the TTC credit now for heavily advertised that express bus to the airport now on the subway diagrams. Before the express bus to the airport was pretty much a well kept secret.

But let me be absolutely clear, the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto's annual event for over 130 years is going on now until Labor Day.....there will be a lot more people who go to the CNE then those that went to the Pan Am/Parapan Am games, and guess what, the CNE actually has a positive effect for the city, unlike the Pan Am Games which clearly had a negative effect on the city. 2.5 billion we know so far as been tossed down the drain, I really don't understand where the money went, the only thing special about these venues were the temporary security fences installed everywhere, that costed over 2.5 billion dollars?

Since we will never know where the money went, are you sure we really want to be throwing 25 billion at the IOC? Forget Agenda 2020, let's be real here. As I say, a summer Olympics would be enjoyable for sure, but it is not at all worth it with the enormous cost it will bring to taxpayers. Remember that little pickle Greece is in right now, are you sure we want to be going down the same path as them. I know for sure that I do not want to, especially when you consider that Ontario's debt is worse than California's! I read once that Ontario has the largest sub-national debt in the world!

The people I have spoken to complain just from the cost of the 50 million dollars to make a bid, let alone how much the actual cost of the Olympics would be if Toronto were to get them.

[mr.bernham]

So you realize most of the benefits are not immediate right?

[mistercorporate]

There were tons of benefits from the bid before the Pan Am Games even started. MisterSG1 is just a troll with his own agenda or mental illness (pick your poison). The fact he doesn't know the entire bid cost will be covered by private sponsors shows how out to lunch he is, it's not even worth rebuddling all his stupid statements point by point, waste of energy.

[intoronto]

2.5 billion was for the whole games budget. From infrastructure, security, operations etc.

[woohooitsme83]

NoTO2024 sounds weirdly clever. Like, it's "No to 2024," but also "No TOronto2024." Yeah... that's it... Super off topic. Sorry.

[Dakooo]

NoTO2024 sounds weirdly clever. Like, it's "No to 2024," but also "No TOronto2024." Yeah... that's it... Super off topic. Sorry.

I WAS THINKING THE EXACT SAME THING!!!!!!!!

(sorry if I broke any rule relating to caps locks but I was just too excited)

[Alan in Montréal]

Not looking good for Toronto 2024. Now that the PanAm glow is over, economic realities are kicking in.

I agree that 2024 is not the time for a bid. There's just no way the IOC will say no to LA and give the Games to Toronto -- too soon after Vancouver 2010 and LA appears to have a solid bid. 2024 is going to Europe, most likely anyway.

Budget committee says 'meh' to Olympic bid

(Source: Toronto Star, Monday, August 31, 2015.)

Not a single member of the city’s powerful budget committee is endorsing Toronto entering the race to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Toronto has only a slim chance of submitting a winning bid, and even if the cash-strapped city is selected, the Olympics could prove to be financial boondoggle for years to come, councillors said after the committee met Monday to begin discussions on the city’s 2016 budget.

Several councillors said an outright no to a bid, while budget chief Gary Crawford and Councillor James Pasternak said they’d only consider Toronto advancing a bid if the cost — estimated at between $50 million and $60 million — is paid for by the private sector.

Toronto is under pressure if it wants to try to secure the 2024 Olympics, an idea that appeared to gain traction after the success of the recent Pan Am Games, the largest sporting event in Canadian history. Los Angeles is poised to enter the contest — its city council is expected to vote Tuesday — and is considered a frontrunner. LA2024 has already released a copy of its bid.

Paris is also considered to have an edge over Hamburg, Budapest and Rome. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will choose the host city in 2017.

If Toronto wants to submit a bid, Mayor John Tory and the Canadian Olympic Committee must say so in a letter to the IOC by Sept. 15.

“We are now in the process of analyzing how the (Pan Am) Games went, collecting information on the Olympic bid process, and consulting members of council, the business community, the public and both levels of government,” Keerthana Kamalavasan, spokesperson for the mayor’s office, wrote in email.

Crawford (Ward 36, Scarborough Southwest) said that after the Pan Am Games ended, he was inclined to “ride the wave” and support Toronto pursuing the 2024 Olympics.

“But I’m starting to look at the fiscal realities, the cost of all that, and the fact that Los Angeles has actually put in a bid,” he said. “I’m not saying no to it at this point, but I’m sort of cautiously stepping back a little bit to wait and see.”

Councillor John Campbell (Ward 4, Etobicoke Centre) has no appetite for a bid for the Olympics, which have proven to be “losing financial endeavors” in other cities.

“As a fiscally responsible person I’m very opposed to the idea of going for the Olympics,” said Campbell, vice-chair of the budget committee.

Even if Tory submits the letter, he will still need council’s approval to move forward. Campbell doesn’t think that support exists.

Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 33, Don Valley East) says there is no way city officials have the time to gear up for a 2024 bid. But she understands the enthusiasm in some circles.

“Whether you win or lose, preparing a bid is a business and you make money being the guy who gets to prepare the bid,” she said. “A whole bunch of consultants make money and a whole bunch of retired dignitaries, and retired CEOs, get to have fun with this project and play around with big amounts of public money.”

Councillor Justin Di Ciano (Ward 5, Etobicoke-Lakeshore) is also “leaning against” a bid.

“I’ve yet to see a city that comes out better. It’s a heavy burden for a city to deal with — look at cost overruns and security. I’d rather spend a billion on transit than on security.”

Councillor Michelle Berardinetti (Ward 35, Scarborough-Southwest) is also opposed to a bid, a spokesman in her office said Monday.

Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) said that while Toronto “performed very well” during Pan Am, he’s skeptical about the long-term benefits of an Olympics bid.

In January 2014, councillors voted against bidding for the 2024 Games after considering a consultants’ feasibility report that warned of “significant costs and risks” associated with a bid to host an Olympic Games.

Toronto finished third behind Atlanta and Athens for the 1996 Summer Games and second to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. Montreal hosted the Summer Games in 1976, and the Winter Olympics were held in Calgary and Vancouver, in 1988 and 2010 respectively.

Edited August 31, 2015 by Alan in Montréal

[dave199]

John Tory focused on Toronto Olympic bid despite council detractors

Los Angeles could formalize its bid on Tuesday

CBC News Posted: Sep 01, 2015 12:51 PM ET Last Updated: Sep 01, 2015 3:49 PM ET

John Tory is pushing ahead with meetings about a potential Toronto Olympic bid, even as some on his council vow to oppose it. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)

Olympic Bid? 8:24

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Mayor John Tory says he's spoken with the prime minister and the premier about Toronto's potential bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, even as councillors in a potential rival city, Los Angeles, vote on whether to submit a bid.

To start the bid process, Tory would would have to submit a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressing Toronto's interest in hosting the Games. While some councillors are skeptical of a proposed bid, Tory is mulling the idea and is still gathering information.

• Toronto councillors cooling on 2024 Olympic bid

"I hope to be in a position … to have a reasonably complete summary of all that information at my disposal when it comes time to make a decision on whether to submit a letter or not," Tory said.

Tory, speaking with reporters Tuesday, said he spoke with Prime Minister Stephen Harper about a potential Olympic bid in the lead-up to this summer's Pan and Parapan Am Games. He said he hopes to discuss the topic with the other federal party leaders, Tom Mulcair and Justin Trudeau, as the city will need to rely on whoever wins the federal election.

Tory also said city council will get a chance to debate the idea and vote on whether or not to support a bid.

That bid alone could cost the city $50-$60 million, according to a city feasibility report published last year. The budget for the Games — which in Toronto's case could include a brand new stadium — would cost billions.

Los Angeles, whose council will vote Tuesday on whether or not to bid for the Games, put forward a $4.1-billion proposal.

Other potential rivals include a joint bid from Rome and Paris, as well as Budapest, Hungary and Hamburg, Germany.

Councillors stake positions on Games

Tory said most of his meetings about the Olympic bid remain informal at this point, though he has also met with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne on the matter and plans to meet with union, business and youth leaders this week to get their opinions on the Games.

The problem with Olympics … is that you can't predict the cost overruns.

- Coun. John Campbell

There hasn't been a major debate about a potential Games bid at Toronto city council, but that hasn't stopped several councillors from staking positions.

Coun. Glenn De Baeremaeker said he supports an Olympic bid because of what it could mean for infrastructure investment in the city

• LISTEN | Toronto councillors square off on Olympic bid

The Olympics, and other similar events, are "a catalyst for major infrastructure projects and city building projects," he told CBC Radio's Metro Morning.

De Baeremaeker said he's confident Toronto can learn from successful host cities, like Vancouver, and deliver a Games on budget.

But Coun. John Campbell, who called the Olympic idea "folly," said hosting the mega-sporting event is too risky for the city.

"The problem with Olympics … is that you can't predict the cost overruns," he said.

Campbell said he'd "have to see some pretty solid numbers," from other governments and corporate sponsors before backing a bid, and even then he's concerned Torontonians would be on the hook for a huge percentage of the costs.

Mississauga to debate Toronto bid next week

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, meanwhile, said in a statement her city will not support a Toronto bid until studying a "comprehensive business case."

Crombie said Mississauga city council is set to debate the issue on Sept. 9.

"Hosting the Olympics is an enormous responsibility which will have lasting implications for communities across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area — long after the games have concluded. I need to know what those implications will be for Mississauga."

Gord Krantz, the Town of Milton's mayor, said his town is ready to welcome an Olympic crowd. The town is home the Mattamy National Cycling Centre, which features a brand new velodrome that was one of the most popular venues during the Pan and Parapan Am Games.

Tory wants private sector to pay for Olympic bid

With a Sept. 15 deadline looming, Mayor John Tory continues to do his homework on the viability of an Olympic bid.

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CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Toronto Mayor John Tory is searching for a corporate sponsor to cover the cost of an Olympic bid.

By: Betsy Powell City Hall Bureau, Published on Tue Sep 01 2015

Mayor John Tory says he is asking private sector leaders to “step up” with funding if they want Toronto to mount a bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.

“I believe that if there is to be one (a bid) it should be largely financed by the private sector,” Tory said Tuesday. “That’s been done elsewhere and could be done here if there’s the will and interest in doing so.”

Toronto has until Sept. 15 to submit a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) indicating that the city is interested in joining the bidding process. Paris, Hamburg, Budapest and Rome have already entered the competition. On Tuesday, Los Angeles city council voted 15-0 to green light a bid. That city previously hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984.

Tory stressed he has not yet made up his mind but continues to canvass a wide variety of opinions from leaders in labor and business and the non-profit sector as well as representatives from the sports industry and past civic leaders.

Tory said he is trying to pin down exactly how much a bid would cost. A consultant report prepared for the city estimated it would run between $50 million and $60 million, though the IOC has announced rule changes since the report was prepared in 2013.

Sports executive Casey Wasserman, who is leading the Los Angeles’ bid for the 2024 Summer Games, has said private donors have pledged $35 million U.S. to fund that city’s bid, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Tory said Tuesday he has had a preliminary discussion with Premier Kathleen Wynne on a bid but it’s premature to comment. He also intends to talk to the leaders of the three federal parties on the campaign trail to gauge their opinions.

“If they said to me ‘Well no, absolutely not, I can tell you that no matter what happens if we win we’re not going to be interested in this’, that’s obviously very relevant to my own deliberation.”

Tory said he is also paying close attention to what the city’s 44 councillors are thinking. All seven members of the budget committee are either lukewarm or against a bid citing the exorbitant costs of hosting an Olympics which have a legacy of cost overruns.

“The concerns about finance are on my mind too,” he said at the launch for the United Way’s annual fundraising drive.

Ultimately, he added, a final decision on a bid will be up to council, “so obviously it’s on my radar screen to be seeing and trying to determine . . . whether there’s support for that or not.”

The IOC will pick a host city on Sept. 15, 2017.

Edited September 1, 2015 by dave199

[intoronto]

There is no point in bidding. Councilors do not support it. It will fail barring a drastic change in opinion.

[mistercorporate]

They may just prepare a bid for 2024 to get the kinks of the plan ironed out and to get IOC feedback, then go all out for a full-on 2028 bid now that South Africa is backing out of that race.