A Times Editorial

Open gamesmanship

A full and open debate is necessary if boosters hope to win public support for bringing the 2012 Olympics to the Tampa Bay area.

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 16, 2000

Despite the early assurances of Olympics boosters that they would never seek a dime of public money, taxpayers are one step closer to being on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars should the 2012 Olympics come to Florida. On Tuesday, a state Senate committee voted to spend up to $175-million should the United States or International Olympic Committees lose money on the Florida games. Such a public commitment should obligate organizers to open their private effort to greater public scrutiny.

To now, Florida 2012 has used all sorts of specious arguments in an attempt to have it both ways. First it insists the organizing effort is primarily a private venture -- a ridiculous suggestion, considering: the public purpose cited by the group in obtaining tax-free status; its receipt of tens of thousands of tax dollars; its use of Tampa's name and image at home and abroad; and the millions of dollars state, federal and local agencies would have to spend on roads and other projects to accommodate the games.

Now Florida 2012 wants public financial guarantees, even as it resists disclosing the particulars of its bid. Taxpayers, in other words, are being asked to ensure the costs for transportation and facilities without knowing (or having any influence over) the expense, location and usefulness of the Olympic parks and other amenities that would be part of the project.

The reality is that hosting an Olympics is a monumental task that requires a substantial investment of public money, prestige, time and expertise. Private donations act as seed money, especially at the start, but Olympic bids succeed or fail depending on the totality of public and private support. Florida 2012 won't release details of Tampa's bid until later this year, only months before the submission deadline of Dec. 15. The community will have no meaningful chance to offer feedback, despite enormous guarantees being made on faith on the public's behalf.

Florida 2012 will not build meaningful public support by selling T-shirts and key chains and other junk memorabilia. Skepticism is strong because of the secrecy and because the 2012 games are so far away. A state commitment of $175-million gives the clearest indication yet of the magnitude of the expense and the public improvements necessary to make the games possible. But will the sports, transit, housing and other facilities needed for the Olympics serve a legitimate public need once the games are over? What portion should be shouldered by the state and the cities and counties behind the bid? Should the public's liability be covered by a special Olympics tax, or should it be limited to tax breaks or other incentives?

Without a full and honest debate to answer these questions, organizers cannot assure themselves of community support over what promises to be a long, difficult and expensive global competition to host the 2012 games. It is a short-sighted strategy -- one that makes the bid easier to make but harder to win.

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