Plant City vs. City of Light? No contest!

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By JOHN ROMANO

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 23, 2001

As the landscape sprawls before him -- the Lakeland Steak 'n Shake should soon be in view -- the car's driver discusses Beijing. And Toronto. And Paris.

One can only ponder whether, at this exact moment on the outskirts of Paris, a similar gentleman in a similar car is contemplating Plant City.

This is Ed Turanchik's world. And it is growing smaller every day.

The head of Florida 2012 sees a world where Beijing is no longer a factor. Where Toronto may be eliminated by Vancouver. Where Paris was just trumped by Istanbul. A world where central Florida looks like an Olympic paradise.

And the Thonotosassa exit whizzes by.

It is Turanchik's job to know the world's business. Which is why, even though the Florida 2012 offices celebrated with champagne a week ago, he was not surprised when the 2008 Olympics were awarded to Beijing.

"If you're in this business and you were nervous about whether Beijing would get it," Turanchik said, "then you shouldn't be in this business."

Turanchik is grin-deep into this business. For years, he has been wearing his big smile and convincing others he was not a loon. Convincing them the Olympics would fit nicely and look splendid on Tampa.

On this particular day, Turanchik was driving home from Orlando after signing an agreement with Amtrak to provide train service between Tampa and Orlando should a proposed rail service fall off the tracks.

Next week, Turanchik takes his case to the United States Olympic Committee, which is conducting a summer tour of the eight cities vying to be the U.S. representative in bids for the 2012 Games.

The process is like a global video game. Survive one stage and you're allowed to move on to the next. Just replace the evil, mutant monkey on your video screen with an evil, inhumane metropolis.

Already, the eight U.S. cities have survived the critical first stage without sacrificing anything other than human rights issues in China.

It was imperative for the United States that Beijing triumph over Toronto for the 2008 Olympics. Had Toronto won, there was no chance the ensuing Olympics would be awarded to another North American city.

Now, the cycle lines up perfectly for a U.S. bid. After going to North America in 1996 (Atlanta), Oceania in 2000 (Sydney), Europe in 2004 (Athens) and Asia in 2008 (Beijing), the time will be right for the U.S. in 2012.

Assuming, of course, Toronto gets bamboozled again.

Toronto officials were so emphatic about getting the 2008 Games, they have said little about 2012 as a fallback. One of the reasons is they might be eliminated by their country.

Vancouver, specifically Whistler Mountain, is bidding for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Already there is talk in Canada that Vancouver's bid was detrimental to Toronto's. Resubmitting a Toronto bid could thus hamper Vancouver, so the Canadian Olympic Association may put Toronto on the back burner.

As for Paris, the most snooty of European cities was beaten on the first 2008 ballot by Istanbul. If Istanbul can beat Paris, than shouldn't a bid that includes Pinellas Park have a legitimate shot at taking on London, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro in 2012?

"All the pieces are falling together," Turanchik said.

Of course, one of the major pieces is surviving the next six months. After the USOC finishes its site visits -- along with Tampa, there is Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. -- it will eliminate at least half the U.S. contenders in December.

If the prospect of an early exit from the game is worrying Turanchik, he hides it well. Florida 2012 officials have been studying reports of the USOC's visits the past month and have a good idea of what the committee wants to see and hear. Turanchik also is confident in the inherent benefits of a central Florida Olympic bid (and if you don't know those by now, Ed will squeeze you in on his schedule a week from Wednesday).

With deadlines and decisions quickly approaching, Turanchik said he never has felt more alive.

Unfortunately, the same can not be said for Toronto.

Or Paris.

Lutz, meanwhile, lives on.

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