Not even President and Michelle Obama, nor Oprah herself, could seal the Olympic deal for Chicago. Chitown’s biggest powerhouses flew to Copenhagen this week to lobby for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Games, but the second city lost the bid today in the first round of voting by the International Olympic Committee. Tokyo lost in the next round, and in the final round the IOC selected Rio de Janeiro over Madrid to host the games. This will be the first time a South American city will host the Olympics. Brazil was a favorite to win the games — mostly because every other country has hosted before — but there was an audible gasp in the voting room when it was announced that Chicago lost in the first round. Still, I know many Chicagoans will be relieved by the results — there was a big fear of increased taxes if their city won the bid — and I for one can’t wait to watch all those hot Brazilian boys in the stands when the Olympics take over their country. [via WashingtonPost.com]
