Olympics could help

Trying times in the City of Pittsburgh’s economy call for novel solutions. And I’ve got one…. Trying times in the City of Pittsburgh’s economy call for novel solutions. And I’ve got one.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Bring the Olympics to the ‘Burgh.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Of course the city itself wouldn’t be able to foot the bill for such an event, what with its current fiscal crisis and all, but there are enough sponsors and private investors out there that could be swayed into pledging support with the right motivation.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Make local businesses realize the great potential for gains that inherently exist in hosting an international event of the Olympics’ scale. Convince the airline hubs of the profits to be made down the road.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The earliest possible games — not already contracted to a city — are the summer games of 2012. But the deadline for city applications is all but in the past, making it close to impossible for Pittsburgh to join as a prospective city. Therefore it is far more logical to focus on the winter games of 2014.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Can it be done? Yes, but the planning must start immediately. Olympic bidding is not an overnight process, especially for American cities.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ To Pittsburgh’s advantage, however, is the fact that the Olympics are set to take place in other nations from 2004 through 2010. Additionally eight of the nine applicants for the 2012 games are not American cities. If an international city wins the contest for the summer games of 2012, an appeal for another American-hosted games could be very plausible.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Does Pittsburgh have the facilities to host the Olympics? Yes and no.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ No, Pittsburgh does not yet have all of the necessary structures for the winter games. But no host ever does. Designating construction for the Olympics, and outstretching the games to surrounding regions, is far from unorthodox.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pittsburgh is primed for such an undertaking. In comparison with Salt Lake City, host of the 2002 winter games, Pittsburgh is ahead of where it would need to be.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ In Salt Lake City, medals were presented daily in the open-air Olympic Medals Plaza, which held 20,000 people. The newly constructed DavidL.LawrenceConvention Center can hold more than that with multiple conference halls, 53 meeting rooms and state-of-the-art teleconference capabilities.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The 2002 Olympics held downhill and aerial events at the Deer Valley Resort and the Snowbasin Ski Area.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Granted, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a slope to combat DeerValley — a 9,570 foot-tall summit — in sheer magnitude, but if the games were allowed to spread throughout the Allegheny Mountains, skiers could find themselves on SnowshoeMountain, which features Cupp Run, designed by Olympian Jean Claude Kily.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ For hockey and other ice events, the Salt Lake City Olympics utilized three separate facilities, none of which could hold a greater capacity of people than the Mellon Arena. The smallest of the three, the Peaks Ice Arena, had a maximum capacity less than half the size of the home of the Penguins.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The costs would be high, but the rewards equally grand.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ And if nothing else, watching the ceremonial torch travel toward the Point to reflect off of all three rivers could lift the staggering morale of a city trapped in troubles.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ So bring the games to Pittsburgh and start polishing your bronze, silver and steel.

‘

Adam Fleming is a columnist for The Pitt News and is still upset that the Russian judges unfairly ruled on his last column.