No Games Chicago was an all volunteer group of concerned citizens who came together to oppose the bid for the 2016 Olympics. Overcoming tremendous odds and working with virtually no resources, this tireless group of dedicated activists tok on the most powerful people in American politics. More info:http://www.nogameschicago.com, tom@tresser.com

1. The Battle for the Bid - The Untold Story. Part 1

2. ONE THE ONE SIDE, THE ENTIRE POLITICAL, BUSINESS AND MEDIA INFRASTRUCTURE OF CHICAGO, LED BY MAYOR RICHARD M. DALEY, LINED UP TO SUPPORT THE 2016 OLYMPIC BID .

3. NO DOWNTOWN CIVIC GROUP, GOOD GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION, THINK TANK, ACADEMIC INSTITUTION, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, PARKS GROUP OR GRASSROOTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION OPPOSED THE BID.

18. And opposing all that...

22. OUR STRATEGY OUR MAIN GOAL WAS TO INFLUENCE AN ELECTION. THE FUTURE OF CHICAGO WOULD BE DECIDED BY AN ELECTION HELD BY 107 VOTERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO WOULD GATHER ON OCTOBER 2. THE OTHER SIDE COLLECTED $80 MILLION AND CONTROLLED THE APPARATUS OF LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

23. We did the research that no one else would do...

24. THE GAMES ALWAYS MAKE MONEY…FOR THE IOC, FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, FOR CONSULTANTS, FOR CORPORATE SPONSORS… Montreal took 31 years to pay of Olympic debt! London 2012 games $9 billion over budget!

25. “ Financing is the biggest obstacle,” said Jerry Karlik, a principal at Kargil Development, which has done projects in the South Loop and responded to a bid committee request for expressions of interest in the Olympic Village earlier this year. “There’s going to have to be some sort of assistance: guarantees, tax credits or something. Mr. Karlik, who attended the luncheon, said he figures lenders today won’t finance more than 60% to 70% of a project, compared with 80% to 90% before the recession. “ Someone’s going to have to come to the table to fill the void,” he said.” May 13, 2009

26. THIS WAS GIVEN TO ALDERMEN IN SECRET BRIEFINGS

30. VANCOUVER’S BOND RATING LOWERED, CITY FACING BANKRUPCY.

31. Watch the video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MlzsyNh6pk MAYOR CALLS OLYMPIC VILLAGE A “ $1 BILLION BOONDOOGLE THAT VANCOUVER TAXPAYERS ARE STUCK WITH!”

32. We engaged the community...

33. No Games’ first public forum – January 31, 2009 – University of Illinois, Chicago. Over 250 attend to hear speakers from affordable housing, education, human rights and social justice leaders.

34. APRIL 2, 2009 – THE I.O.C.EVALUATION COMMISSION COMES TO CHICAGO TO REVIEW PROPOSED VENUES. NO GAMES CALLS FOR PROTEST RALLY IN FEDERAL PALZA.

43. During the summer the 2016 Committee held tightly controlled "community meetings" in all 50 wards.

44. Sept 29 Anti-Bid Rally at City Hall Inside Outside

49. We were the ONLY source for the other side of the story...

52. We did our own analysis of the Civic Federation’s highly compromised “review” of the bid.

53. We sent a delegation to the world HQ of the IOC in Switzerland...

64. IN SWITZERLAND, MARTIN, ONE OF OUR DELEGATES WAS IN THE HOTEL LOBBY WHEN HE BUMPED INTO SOMEONE FROM CHICAGO. SEEING HIS SOCCER JERSEY, HE SAID “I LOVE SOCCER.” MARTIN REPLIED IN ENGLISH, “SO DO I.” “ OH, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?” THIS PERSON ASKED MARTIN.

65. “ I’m from the South Side.” “ What are you doing here?” “ I’m couch surfing!” “ What’s couch surfing?”

67. USED IN EVENING NEWS THAT NIGHT SEVERAL TIMES!