BIRMINGHAM might be busy patting itself on the back for luring the US Olympic team for the 2012 Games, but are we really ready to thrust our city quite so firmly onto the global stage?
While I'm sure the team will only see the best of Brum, the same can't be said for any visitors to the 2012 Games who might happen to stumble through our city.
On present form we'll have a crumbling coach station, buses which have become a haven for anti-social behaviour and a railway terminal which isn't fit for purpose.
Will any US fans hoping to follow their athletes to Birmingham - or any other international visitors - really find the transport infrastructure of our region acceptable?
Given the fact that those of us who live here don't, I think we already know the answer.
Granted, we now have five years to transform our transport system, but given the inability by all involved to actually get things moving in the right direction, the puffed chests which we saw at the announcement of the US link-up may well have transformed into embarrassed red faces by the time 2012 swings around.
Those responsible for making the decisions MUST act now if Birmingham really is to be a proud part of the greatest sporting show on earth. The clock is well and truly ticking.