Being a host city

Being a resident of Vancouver when the it was awarded the 2010 Winter Olympics, I was exposed to much of the debate on the economic benefits/pitfalls of hosting the games. I ended up voting for the games to come to Vancouver in the referendum held by the city (the plan was endorsed by about 67% of the population, as I remember), mainly on the grounds that I really, really like the Olympics and not at all because I thought they were a good deal for the city economically (which I suspect they may not be). I don't know if I'd vote the same way now, but at any rate, Jesse Walker has a good take on the issue.