When I first moved to New York City in 2005, the big news that summer was the possibility of the Olympics coming to Gotham. Speculation was running high, especially when New York made the short-list. Mayor Bloomberg had a giant clock installed in Union Square counting down to when the decision would officially be announced, and people were gearing up for the announcement.

And then…nothing. New York City was eliminated in the second round. I was new to NYC at that point, so couldn’t – and wouldn’t – claim to be a New Yorker (though I’m getting close now, and I think having subway art that looks like me should count for something). However, I remember a sense of relief that we were not chosen. I had no idea if I would still be in NYC in 7 years, but if I was, I’m sure I would not want to deal with the traffic and logistical nightmare that comes with hosting a multi-sport, multi-country quadrennial event.

Waaaa-Waaaaa.

However, time has marched steadily on, and I’m still in NYC in the summer of 2012 watching NYC’s almost-Olympics take place across the pond. And while I really don’t care about the Olympics, I can’t help but wonder: what if the Olympics were being currently held in NYC? What would the past 7 years have looked like? I’m a big fan of the game counterfactuals (and dystopian futures), so my mind started spinning. So, I’d like to present to you with:

What if the Olympics were being held in NYC?
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