On The Road To 2012 Olympic Games
By Michael R. Bloomberg

The world's biggest sporting event—the Olympics—belongs on the world's biggest stage. The United States Olympic Committee agrees, and that's why on November 2nd, they chose New York as the nation's nominee in the competition for the 2012 Olympic Games. The final selection of the 2012 Olympic site will be made in 2005 by the International Olympic Committee. Over the next three years, we will face intense competition from some of the world's greatest cities as we let the world know why New York will put on the best Olympic Games ever.

There are a lot of advantages to bringing the Games here, both for the Olympics and for all New Yorkers. Convenience is one of them. NYC2012, the civic group that put together New York's Olympic bid, has developed a plan for holding all but three of the Olympic competitions at new or existing locations within the five boroughs. All events in and outside the city will be easily reached by mass transit or ferry service. As the media capital of the world, New York is the logical host for games that will have a global audience, and no one does a better job handling security for world-class events than the New York Police Department. What's in it for New Yorkers? We'd get $900 million worth of new parks and recreation facilities—the largest such investment in the city's history—all paid for by private funds. Preparation for the Olympics also would be a tremendous boost to our economy, generating more than 100,000 person-years of construction employment alone.

Two projects in particular would jump-start development of long neglected stretches of our waterfront. A privately financed 4,400-unit Olympic Village would go up along the East River in Queens. After the games are over, this would become desperately needed new housing for New Yorkers. And new Olympic facilities along Midtown Manhattan's Hudson River shore would generate jobs and opportunity. This would include an expansion of the Javits Convention Center, critical to our staying competitive for travel and tourism dollars. An extension of the No. 7 subway line to this revitalized Midtown area would be financed by bonds sold to investors and repaid through the taxes generated by new business activity in the neighborhood. Bottom line: no existing tax dollars would be required for any of the Olympic projects.

No city better symbolizes the Olympic movement than New York. Throughout our history, we have always opened our arms to the rest of the world. Forty percent of New Yorkers were born outside the U.S.; more than 120 languages are spoken in our homes and on our streets. We attract more international visitors than any other U.S. city. And New Yorkers have the true Olympic drive to test ourselves, never give up, and prove that we are the best. That's what makes New York the "World's Second Home" and what will make us the best host for the Olympic Games in 2012.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the 108th mayor of New York City.