Chicago Loses The Olympics
Posted by: Wendy Atterberry
Filed in:
news
1:40PM, Friday October 2nd 2009
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]
TheFrisky.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
ChoJinn
wrote on October 2 2009 @ 12:49 pm: [report]
THANK you IOC! 2016 Olympics in Chicago would have been a trainwreck for everyone but the contractors and politicians lining their pockets with the inevitable cost overruns.
I Go To 11
wrote on October 2 2009 @ 12:51 pm: [report]
I’m glad to see Rio got it. About time South America got a chance to host the games! And those hot Brazilian men…mmmm…these will be the sexiest Olympics yet.
LunaLena
wrote on October 2 2009 @ 12:58 pm: [report]
As Chicagoan who loves the city… I’m very glad to see the 2016 Olympics go to Rio. I do not believe the Olympics would be a good thing for Chicago… for the politicians of Chicago, maybe, but not for the people or the city itself.
I’ll look forward to seeing the beauty of Rio and South America highlighted from the comfort of my living room instead.
retro chic
wrote on October 2 2009 @ 01:22 pm: [report]
haha… That almost sounded Humpty Dumpty-like, Wendy.
Wellll, I think The Prez’s appearance may have actually sunk the already marginal deal. He’s not a pitchman… for that. Michelle or Biden, maybe; his message would have translated better, considering everything else he’s pitching, imo.
¡Bravo Rio, baby!
bethlynn00
wrote on October 2 2009 @ 01:35 pm: [report]
I actually was looking forward to the Olympics coming to Chicago, it would have been a great honor for the city and the country to host the events. Everyone here in Madison is disappointed, because there were plans that many venues in our area would have been used, plus the increase in jobs, revenue would have been great for everyone. It sucks that people think that only politicians would have benefited from the games coming here, I think it would have been a great boost for the whole city, its residents and the surrounding area.
And actually all of the contending countries sent there heads of state, so President Obama not going probably would have had a negative result as well. I think they were going to pick Rio all along just because it’s never been held there, but I think it’s a sucky choice. Too bad someplace like Johannesburg was not up, I would have rather seen it go there, than Rio.
bogart4017
wrote on October 2 2009 @ 01:54 pm: [report]
I figured as much.
Nobody was feeling the presidents swag this time out.
xifeng882
wrote on October 2 2009 @ 02:02 pm: [report]
I’m really not surprised. The U.S. has hosted the Olympics several times. Its about time a South American country got some Olympic loving
amorsalado
wrote on October 2 2009 @ 03:54 pm: [report]
I’m glad Chicago didn’t get it actually. It would have been a freaking disaster. It’s hard enough to get anywhere as it is.
impoddity
wrote on October 2 2009 @ 10:55 pm: [report]
Jill
wrote on October 4 2009 @ 01:53 am: [report]
Most of the people who wanted the Olympics here don’t even live here. They wouldn’t have to deal with the huge bill and mess. If barely half of chicagoans are in support of something in their own town, chances are its not a good idea.
JoelleA
wrote on October 7 2009 @ 11:15 pm: [report]
The 2016 Olympics are going to Rio de Janeiro, putting the games in South America for the first time. Rio beat surprise finalist Madrid in the last round of voting. Chicago was knocked out in the first round—in one of the most shocking defeats ever handed down by the International Olympic Committee—and Tokyo was eliminated in the second round. It will be the first time rugby has been in the Olympics since the summer games of 1924, when a heavily favored French team received an epic thrashing at the hands of the American team. Since there won’t be a Chicago Olympics, it might be worth payday loans to go wherever it will be.