Place your 2016 Olympics bets here

June 5th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

So, this Chicago Olympics thing — you know, the thing that has me playing pretend transportation pundit — is still on. Chicago was selected as one of the four finalists by the International Olympic Committee, but not without a semi-brutal assessment of the city’s failings. Don’t hold anything back, IOC:

The sometimes blunt grading said Chicago’s construction costs “appear low” and characterized as “optimistic” the Chicago 2016 committee’s projected operating revenues that are being counted on to cover expenses. While praising Chicago’s hotel accommodations, security and environmental efforts, the International Olympic Committee also questioned the Chicago bid’s guarantees and wondered about the state of public transportation.

Whatever, IOC. We don’t need your ringing endorsement, because we’ve got the bookies on our side. What now?

If the oddsmakers of the world are to be believed, the Olympic flame will be rising above Chicago for the Summer Games in 2016. Even before the announcement Wednesday of the four finalists, Chicago was the favorite, and oddsmakers currently rate it at 4-5 — meaning it has a bit better than 50/50 chance of winning the Games. Rio de Janeiro is the 2-1 second choice, while Madrid and Tokyo are the outsiders for now, at odds ranging from 7-1 to 12-1, depending on the bookmaker.

I’m not sure if the IOC knows how we do things over here in the States, but when a bookie says something’s so, it’s so. You want to lay one against 4-5, IOC? Try us. We’ll have high-speed rail and more internationally friendly, only-slightly diseased hookers in this city before you can say “Don’t break my arms! I’m good for it!”

Chumps.