Olympic Bids: Is New York One and Done?

Winning the right to host the Olympic Games is no easy chore. Cities and countries begin upwards of 10 years in advance, and most cities have to bid at least twice before winning the IOC's blessing. New York City, the representative city for the US, however, has stated that it may not bid for the Olympics in 2016 should its bid for the 2012 games come up short.

This is unsettling news for the US Olympic Committee, which reportedly asked for at least a two-bid commitment when it selected New York to be the US city over San Francisco and others. The New York officials say they never made such a commitment, but knowing how the bidding process works, it seems that the USOC's intentions would have been clear.

What is the reason for the possible one and done? Officials from New York claim that there are "a unique series of resources" that may not be replicable. This may have a lot to do with the growing resentment in the city over the proposed West Side stadium, which would cost over $1 billion, or the large amounts of public funds that would have to be applied towards the games. New York officials probably believe that they cannot keep their margin of support long enough to last another 4 years.

It may also be a ploy to get the Games in this go-round. The IOC loves awarding the games to American cities, due to the increased sponsorship dollars and television contracts that result. Could this be enough to overcome the fact that the 2010 Winter Games are on North America (Vancouver)? Right now, Paris (a failed bidder for the 2008 Games) is considered the front-runner. So, if New York does come up short, the USOC may find itself without a candidate for 2016.

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