Olympics still a worthy goal
If the United States wants to host the Olympic Games again anytime soon -- and we should -- we're going to have to keep going after them. But America decided not to put forward a bid at all for the 2020 games. There are legitimate reasons for sitting them out, but we need to work through them and restake our claim.
For the 2012 Summer Olympics, New York City generated a spirited bid to host the games, 11 years after 9/11, at least partially as a sign of our indomitable spirit. The prize went to London.
For the 2016 Summer Olympics, Chicago campaigned to hold the games, behind the energetic support of President Barack Obama and entertainment empress Oprah Winfrey. The 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro.
There are justifications for the 2020 demurral beyond those two recent losses, including a running dispute with the International Olympic Committee over television revenue. Additionally, it's a good thing to see the most international event in the world hosted by new and varied parts of the planet.
But the Olympics have a long history of success in the United States, and seeing our country fail to even submit a bid for the games stings. We need to start now on our next big push to host the Olympics. Holding them in the United States is a joy for both our athletes and our spectators. And beyond that, it's an opportunity to show our nation off to the world. hN