With jaw dropping shock in Chicago, an honorable defeat in Tokyo and surprising endurance in Madrid, Rio de Janeiro won the rights from the International Olympic Committee to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. This not only is a first for Brazil but the entire South American continent as a whole.
Let’s face it, most people in the U.S. wanted the windy city to win, Asia wanted the games back in the far East and Spain wanted to secure the games in Europe for the next three Olympics (London 2012 and Sochi 2014). But it was the chance of expanding the Olympics to a place they have never gone before which earned Rio the games.
When Chicago went out in the first round of voting, the U.S. was shocked and upset. The last time we hosted a summer game was Atlanta 1996 and winter game Salt Lake City 2002. A lot of people thought it would be a blood bath between Chicago and Rio de Janeiro in the final round of voting but we, including myself, were wrong. “Other than people who like to cheer, ‘We’re No. 4! We’re No. 4!’ I don’t know how this is anything but really embarrassing,” Republican strategist Rich Galen said.
It’s embarrassing but in the long run, Chicago never had a shot, just like the other cities. I mean lets’ face it; since Beijing 2008, Tokyo would not earn the games so soon. Plus they hosted the games in 1964 and Japan has hosted two Winter Olympics (Sapporo 1972 and Nagano 1998). Not to mention, their national support was 55 percent according to an IOC opinion poll. It will be another 20 or 30 years before the land of the rising sun hosts the games.
Madrid’s candidacy is like Ron Paul running for president: neither will win. This makes a third failed attempt for the city. Had Madrid won the right to host the games, this would mean the games, from 2012 to 2016, would be in Europe for six years.
Now I have been to Madrid and it’s one of the most beautiful countries in the world with the countryside, salsa dancing, bull fights, cathedrals, etc. But since Barcelona 1992, the small Spanish country will be waiting in the bull ring for some time.
Many thought Chicago would be the one to beat since President Obama has ties there. Plus, if Obama wins re-election for president, the 2016 Olympics would be during his last years in office. The president even went to the IOC voting in Copenhagen, Denmark to back the bid. This marked the first time a U.S. president has made a bid in person according to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
Now Obama was criticized by the right for making this trip during the health care battle on Capital Hill, hence the quote from Galen I mentioned earlier. He made the right move to fly in there with Michelle because the other candidate cities were sending their heads of state. Now the Obamas and the American people have to swallow their pride over the loss, much like I had to this past week as well.
Had Chicago won, I would be online at the Olympics Web site applying to be a torchbearer for the torch relay around the country the second CNN sent me a text alert saying Chicago had won.
I would like to say, for the record, I called it from the get-go about Rio. Think about it, this is the first time the Olympics will be hosted in South America. Rio’s population is young with 62 percent of Brazilian’s under the age of 29 according to official Brazilian statistics. This will capture the youth of this developing country and continent. An added bonus was they had the biggest budget of $14.4 billion according to IOC figures.
One thing the IOC looks at when choosing the host city is if it’s time to go there or not. South America has been waiting patiently and 2016 is their time to show the world their theme how to “live your passion.”
Loading ...