How About the Philadelphia Olympics?

Now that cities from the United States can bid for the Olympics again  after the United States Olympic Committee resolved its differences with the International Olympic Committee, there's some speculation over which city the USOC will put forward for a bid for the 2024 Olympic Games.  Several cities have been mentioned, and one city that's been mentioned which caught my eye is none other than . . . Philadelphia.

I'm all for it.  After all, that's where my father's family is from.  (I'm of the Philadelphia Irish, yet even I cannot explain Chris Matthews.)

The executive director of the Philadelphia Sports Congress, Larry Needle, has hinted that the city, which has made a bid for the Games several times in the past, is eager to bid again and thinks that, while 2024 is possible, 2028 might be more likely.  Either year would be a great tie-in with a proposed world's fair (yes!) for the quarter-millennial, or 250th, anniversary of American independence in 2026.  Among Philadelphia's advantages are several components the Olympics need that already exist: three major stadiums, plus a new soccer stadium being built in nearby Chester; an equestrian arena in suburban Devon; the Bucks County and Brandywine Valley countrysides, either of which would make a great place for road cycling races; rowing facilities on the Schuylkill River, and; a good airport and direct train service from New York.  Several Olympic trial events and a meeting of the International Fencing Federation have already been held there.  

If you want a world-class urban environment, you got it in Philly: the Philadelphia Art Museum, the Rodin Museum, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Rittenhouse Square, several historic sites related to the American Revolution, and hip Londonesque neighborhoods like stately Society Hill and funky Manayunk. 

Philly's drawbacks include a lot of industrial brownfields and  dirt-poor neighborhoods, but the city could make lemonade out of these lemons.  London built a whole Olympic complex in an abandoned industrial area, and Philly has the opportunity to build an Olympic village that could be converted into world-class affordable housing, not to mention a chance to spruce up neighborhoods like the Oxford Circle area.

Anyway, I found this article online that makes the case for an Olympiad in the City That Loves You Back far better than I can.  It includes two mock-up posters for a 2024 Philadelphia Olympics.  I couldn't help but come up with a design myself. (The wings aren't my own illustration, but the eagle head is.)

Hmm, maybe I should stick to writing . . .. :-O :-D