July 7, 2005 -- After all the hoopla, we finally see that New York was never really a candidate for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Maybe now we can finally get on with rebuilding downtown.

There are those of us who need real, long-term employment — not the promise of useless football stadiums or games that many never wanted here in the first place. Peter Tholke

Bronx

*****

Cablevision has destroyed the Knicks and the Rangers.

And now it has destroyed New York's bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

Thanks guys. Joseph Martini

Oceanside

*****

Although New York didn't land the bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, New Yorkers can at least take solace in London winning.

Our closest ally will undoubtedly be a great host, and we should be happy for the people of England.

We should be even happier to note that Paris lost — yet again. James Kozack

Manhattan

*****

Now that our push for the 2012 Olympics has come to an end, there's really only one thing to do: start looking toward 2016.

No city deserves the Games more than New York. Rachel Snyder

Brooklyn

*****

On July 6, the International Olympic Committee didn't pick New York City to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.

But it was on June 6, the day that the New York state Legislature voted against funding the proposed 75,000-seat, retractable-dome stadium that the Olympic bid was all but squashed.

Nothing could have shouted "lack of commitment" more to this fickle IOC bunch than having the stadium shot down.

When did this town go from being the capital of the world to taking a back seat to London and Paris? Eugene Dunn

Medford

*****

I just hope that Charles Dolan of Cablevision is a happy man.

He killed the West Side stadium and the 2012 Olympics bid as well. James Craven

Philadelphia

*****

It really should come as no surprise that New York City didn't win the Olympic bid.

After all, the world and the IOC have seen the way our city has handled a small area called Ground Zero.

If we can't decide on the proper way to rebuild this site — and it seems we never will — then we have no hope of gaining the trust we need in order to host the Olympic Games. Bob Mayfield

Brooklyn