NYC all but out of the 2012 Olympic running

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

From our friends at ESPN.com

 

ALBANY, N.Y. -- In a matter of hours, New York City slipped from being a worthy contender for hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics to a long shot, contemplating a forfeit.

 

A state panel denied an essential chunk of funding for a proposed $2 billion stadium on Manhattan's West Side -- the centerpiece of the city's bid to host the Olympics. Rules dictate the city cannot change its proposal, which the International Olympic Committee is considering along with bids from Paris, London, Madrid and Moscow. The IOC will choose a host city on July 6.

 

"We have let America down," Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a stadium proponent, said Tuesday. "The [u.S. Olympic Committee] selected us, New York, to represent the country. Other American cities wanted to have the privilege of competing at the world level."

 

One day earlier, New York officials were boasting about the Big Apple's strong chance in the showdown to host the games. The IOC issued a report Monday morning evaluating each bid, giving Paris, London, Madrid and New York positive ratings.

 

But by midafternoon, when lawmakers on the state Public Authorities Control Board indicated they would not approve $300 million in stadium funding, a clearly disappointed Bloomberg acknowledged New York's fading hopes and said it was unlikely New York would be selected without an Olympic stadium guaranteed.

 

When asked Monday if he would request that the USOC yank New York from consideration for the IOC's decision next month in Singapore, Bloomberg said he would discuss the matter with USOC leaders.

 

USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel said officials are studying how to proceed.

 

Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff, founder of the NYC2012 bid committee, said the stadium defeat was "deeply disappointing, especially because it comes on the day when the International Olympic Committee verified the strength of New York's bid."

 

While NYC2012 can request to take New York out of the running, the USOC has final say on whether to pull out. It is considered an unlikely move, in part because quitting could devastate U.S. chances at hosting future Olympics for many years.

 

The sports complex also would have served as a home for the New York Jets, and the team's president said the setback wasn't the final chapter in the team's quest to build in Manhattan.

 

"Four years of hard work and planning will not be washed away in a single day," Jay Cross said.

 

The powerful three-member state board -- which comprises representatives for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Gov. George Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno -- shot down the funding in a vote late Monday afternoon. The board's actions must be unanimous, and only Pataki's representative voted yes.

 

Pataki had long supported the proposal for the stadium. Until Monday's vote, Bruno and Silver said they had serious concerns but indicated they could be swayed.

 

In recent weeks, the mayor courted Silver with various economic development projects in his lower Manhattan district, trying to convince him that the area devastated by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks would not be neglected in favor of the stadium.

 

"This really couldn't be any better," NYC2012 bid leader Dan Doctoroff said. "We're absolutely delighted by this report with just great reviews in every single category."

 

The stadium plan has been contentious from the start. Supporters, including Pataki and Bloomberg, have touted its economic development potential.

 

Detractors, including the owner of the neighboring Madison Square Garden, have questioned the process that would allow the Jets to buy the land, as well as the wisdom of spending large amounts of public money on a stadium.

[razazteca 0]

If NYC did win would that mean that 80% of the events would be held in East Rutherford, New Jersey?

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

I didn't hear much discussion of events that would take place other than at the Manhattan stadium, except for something about Queens (where, I don't know) and some place upstate.

 

I'm pretty dissapointed not only now that the city isn't getting the games (Which I was going to try and attend some of) but the NFL had granted the 2010 Super Bowl to New York, as long as they got the stadium built. Suppose that will now also go by the wayside.

[King Kamala 0]

Is London now the frontrunner with the new Wembley stadium and arena being built as we speak?

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

They weren't going to get it anyways. Paris was considered the heavy favourite almost immediately, and it still is. The darkhorse was London.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Im pissed cause NYC took the US bid away from the DC/Baltimore coalition.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

While I'm not thrilled that NYC appears to have lost the games, I think the cost of the stadium outweighs the benefits.

[Guest Redhawk]

New York was only a candidate because of the whole 9/11 sympathy factor anyway. I always felt like it would've been too hard to hold the Games in NYC.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

While I'm not thrilled that NYC appears to have lost the games, I think the cost of the stadium outweighs the benefits.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would say that they could probably make the money back up by hosting the games, but everyones saying how the Olympics are no longer really profitable for cities anymore due to increased security costs, and I can't imagine how much money NYC would have to spend for security..