300 runners with various ailments. One runner dead. Complaints about lack of water.
A receipe for disaster.
Publically, bid officials say it isn't going to affect their strategy and they say it isn't going to affect their chances.
I beg to differ.
Hawken back to 2001, and Toronto's bid. Remember Mel Lastman, and his infamous comments? Similar situation. Yes, lives wern't at stake, but public comments by their bid officials said everything was on track. After China won, the stance was still the same. And the media were after the one comment that would solidfy what a lot of us were thinking.
John Bitove, Jr. who was the head of their delegation was very gracious in the loss. He said it "was China's to win" and I couldn't help but wonder if there was something else he wanted to say to somebody but couldn't.
I see him coming down the steps and he makes a beeline right for me. He whispers in my ear that "the Mayor's comments hurt us", gave me a hug and walked away, shooing a hoard of media in his wake, hanging his head down, totally broken in spirit.
Of course, people were wondering "what did he say to you?" He and I had some small conversations during that week, and I think he felt comfortable in my presence, versus some other media people and thus, little tidbits would come out, that other people were scrambling for.
Chicago would bode well to do some major damage control---but it may already be too late. Their excuse is that the runners who got sick and the one who died wern't "elite" runners that would be in the Olympics if it was held there. That's a load of bull.
They were human beings who deserved every guarentee of safety as does a so-called "world class" runner. I worked the Peachtree Road Race for 17 years where there was both a mix of professional and "weekend warriors." We were trained to deal with any medical emergency exactly the same without regard for a runner's status. It's scary to think the participants up in Chicago were considered expendable by their race officals.
I can't get over the denial these people are in. It would be much better for them if they tackled this situation head-on---instead of sticking their heads in the sand and pretending there isn't a problem.
You can bet the USOC and IOC privately are saying there is a problem, that better be fixed before Copenhagen.
Before someone fixes it for them.
