Chicago's Focus on the Olympics Draws Criticism

Dan Bassill, founder of a volunteer program in Chicago, isn’t particularly heartened by the news that his city is a finalist to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Mr. Bassill, chief executive of the Tutor/Mentor Connection, says he would much rather see Chicago philanthropists dedicate themselves to improving the conditions for the needy than on financing a big-money effort to land a major international sporting event.

Instead of competing for the Olympics, he proposes a competition to reward cities for creating programs to help young people in high-poverty neighborhoods, he writes on his blog, Tutor Mentor Connection.