Tribune OpEd

							August 2, 2009

No free check for the 2016 Summer Games
By Manny Flores

We will soon learn if Chicago receives the honor of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic and
Paralympic Games. Winning the Games will be a testament to our city's vitality and global
leadership, and will offer an unparalleled opportunity for economic stimulus and community
development. But these benefits will only be realized if we host a Games that respects
community needs, is fully transparent in its contracting and hiring and is accountable to the
citizens who will live with the Games' infrastructure and financial legacy for coming decades.

Unfortunately, we're not there yet.

At this late date, Chicago taxpayers have yet to receive information that is key to securing
citywide support for the Games -- a full accounting of Chicago 2016's donors and expenditures, a
plan that ensures an open and fair contracting process, detailed information about an insurance
policy to protect Chicago taxpayers from cost overruns, and an independent third-party analysis
of the proposed Olympics budget.

This information already exists. The technology to make it easily accessible also exists. And with
only two months remaining before the host city is announced, it is time for the 2016 Committee
to provide a greater degree of transparency and accountability by adopting these five principles:

1 Authorize an independent oversight committee that will have regular access to financial
statements and contracts. This committee should be composed of respected civic, business and
law enforcement officials who have no financial ties to City Hall or the 2016 Committee, and
should be staffed by an independent compliance office that can regularly monitor the Games'
finances and practices.

2 Implement a process for contract bidding that allows citizens to easily learn who is being
awarded contracts, how much each is worth, and what work is being done. This should include a
full listing of contractors and subcontractors, and should be completed before any contracts are
awarded.

3 Publish financial disclosure and conflict of interest forms for Olympic committee members --
just as all elected officials do -- by Sept. 15.

4 Publish all committee and public expenditures related to the Games onto an open and
searchable database on a quarterly basis.
5 Disclose funding commitments to cover the Games' expenses and outline protections that will
be in place to limit the liability for Chicago taxpayers, including the proposed insurance policy to
cover cost-overruns. This information should be made available immediately.

I have introduced legislation to cap the city's financial commitment for the Games at the $500
million that was authorized by the City Council in 2007. It has been said that if my legislation
passes, we will not be able to sign the host city financial guarantee contract required by the
International Olympic Committee -- effectively killing our chances at being named the host city.

I don't want that to happen, but the 2016 Committee and City Hall have a responsibility to
protect Chicago taxpayers. The five points I outlined would be a significant step forward in
providing the protections we need to support a city guarantee.

Only with an open process can we be guaranteed that the needs of communities are met and that
taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. Now is the time for Chicago to set the highest standard for
transparent and accountable leadership. Let's not squander the opportunity.

Ald. Manny Flores represents Chicago's 1st Ward.