Rana L. Cash of The Dallas Morning News writes that “Toronto is causing a stir in Dallas and each of the other seven American markets interested in laying hold to the 2012 Games. Whether Toronto is a victor or loser in the 2008 bid, it figures very prominently in such plans”.
“Toronto is an issue” says Dallas 2012 president Richard Greene. “I don’t think any of the eight cities in the 2012 bid are dissuaded by ’08, or a competitor in this hemisphere in 2012. We each believe we can win. If you’re not in it to win, you probably need to redefine your mission and purpose. Nobody’s in this just for the exercise”.
The newspaper said that if that were the case, “Toronto would be a fit prized fighter by now. It entered the mix in 1989 and has been running non-stop since. Since losing to Atlanta in 1996, Toronto has gone ahead full-bore.”
While mentioning Beijing’s human-rights abuses, health-threatening smog and poverty, the newspaper says Toronto has no such issues to deal with. “It promotes itself as a safe haven void of scandal and uncertainty. Abounding in beauty and serenity, Toronto is hoping to bypass Beijing and hold off heavy-hitters like Paris and Osaka.”
And the newspaper says that if Toronto is successful, it does not look as promising for Dallas 2012.
