I’ve been digesting this for the past day since the story was first reported by the Tulsa World. Here’s the gist, in case you missed it:
The Tulsa 2020 Committee on Tuesday presented the City Council with the idea of the city making a bid to host the 2020 summer Olympic games. […]
Such a campaign would focus on the Tulsa area’s American Indian heritage and the fact that the state has produced numerous Olympians, from Jim Thorpe to Shannon Miller, and many more.
Understandably, many seemed to regard the proposal with disbelief. But the more it’s examined, the more it doesn’t seem so implausible. Even a notorious skeptic such as City Councilor John Eagleton seems optimistic about the idea.
I think the key part being overlooked is that like the Atlanta Games in 1996, it’s almost certain the Summer Olympics wouldn’t occur in just Tulsa. That means the Games would possibly take place also in other cities such as Norman — the latter which has the University of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium that meets the 80,000-seat requirement.
Of course, there are a lot of logistics in hosting a Summer Olympics that would be tough for Tulsa (and Oklahoma) to overcome, and those might be a deal-breaker. But …
The worst-case scenario is that Tulsa loses its bid but benefits from multiple years of campaign publicity to be the host city, he said.
But, if it won, it would realize a multibillion-dollar economic impact.
Another thought: The fact Oklahoma contains more miles of Route 66 — the most famous road in the world — than any state would be a point in an Olympic bid’s favor. In the event the Sooner State actually hosts the games, you would get people from all over the globe who would take a day or two to experience Route 66 for the first time. It’d be an economic boon to the Mother Road in Oklahoma like no other.
A final note: If Chicago — another Mother Road town — wins its bid to host the Summer Games in 2016, the 2020 bid for Tulsa would be kaput. Nations can’t host the Games that close together.
I hate to say it, but considering our proximity to Chicago, we’re hoping for a decision in favor of Chicago 2016, and are already saving up for the possibility!
I made this suggest a couple decades ago to Gov. Walters. Looks like he jumped right on it!!
I was thinking that Bartlesville could host teh diving, since they have US championships there. OKC could host the rowing and think how much $$$$ we would make from all the turnpike tolls from the media!!!
I foresee free BBQ for everyone in the state based on that revenue alone!!