Why D.C. Is a Perfect Olympic City, According to Its Failed 2012 Pitch
It wouldn't have been an Olympic city. No, that was clearly not majestic enough. For their joint 2012 bid for the Olympics, Washington and Baltimore proposed hosting the event in a grand 50-mile "Olympic corridor." Four hundred and sixty miles of rail would transport athletes and observers around D.C.; Baltimore; Annapolis, Md.; and Alexandria, Va., utilizing the region's existing sporting arenas and a few new ones. There wouldn't be any traffic congestion. And the world would wander, mouths agog, among "a rich backdrop, anchored by historic buildings, significant internationally known monuments, important and diverse museums, and outstanding public spaces."
And yes, the Olympic village would be hosted at the University of Maryland, giving the athletes a well-suited venue for after-event romp arounds.
"While at first blush the concept of holding the Games in two separate states and the District of Columbia may sound daunting, the reality is quite the opposite," reads the bid's now-archived website.
While D.C. and Baltimore were passed over in the American bid for the 2012 Olympics, perhaps some of the same pitches still resonate today, seeing D.C. may be considering a 2024 (the '20s, of course, will be the glorious decade when millennials' narcissism and sense of public service reaches a peak). As recorded in the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, here are some reasons why D.C. should host the games.
Because D.C has hotels and an already entrenched media presence
More than 100,000 hotel rooms of all types and price ranges.
An East Coast of North America location ensuring large ticket sales and maximum TV exposure and revenue.
Because we've done the math
The bid is economically sound and fiscally conservative, making extensive use of the region's many existing athletic and other facilities. An operating surplus of $92 million is expected, and hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games is expected to provide an overall economic contribution of $5.3 billion to the region's economy.
Because transportation "will be a breeze"
The Olympic and Paralympic Games are about moving thousands of people with ease and comfort. We are blessed with a mass-transit system that allows us to say with confidence today that this will be a breeze.
Because the locals will actually fill the stands
In 2000, we took a blind poll of our region's citizens and found very strong support for the idea of hosting the Games in our region. In fact, 82 percent of area residents supported the idea of bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the area. Sixty-nine precent said they would attend at least one event. Eighty-six percent said they felt the games would bring substantial economic benefit.
And because, America!
As a world capital and symbol of international freedom and friendship, and possessing a wealth of international, sports-event, political, cultural, and hospitality resources, Washington, D.C., is uniquely positioned with its compelling and powerful international strategy for bringing the 2012 Games to the United States.
