Rio wins right to host the 2016 Olympics

[Crabtownboy]

I wish them, Rio and the Brazilians, well.

COPENHAGEN – Finally, South America gets an Olympics. The 2016 Games are going to Rio de Janeiro.

In a vote of high drama, the bustling Brazilian carnival city of beaches, mountains and samba beat surprise finalist Madrid, which got a big helping hand from a very influential friend.

Chicago was knocked out in the first round — in one of the most shocking defeats ever in International Olympic Committee voting. Even Tokyo, which had trailed throughout the race, did better — eliminated after Chicago in the second round.

Rio spoke to IOC members' consciences: the city argued that it was simply unfair that South America has never hosted the games, while Europe, Asia and North America have done so repeatedly.

"It is a time to address this imbalance," Brazil's charismatic president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, told the IOC's members before they voted. "It is time to light the Olympic cauldron in a tropical country."

The bearded former union leader disappeared into a huge group hug with the joyous Rio team after IOC president Jacques Rogge announced that the city won. Football great Pele had tears in his eyes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091002/ap_on_sp_ol/oly2016_bids

 

[rbell]

This decision didn't surprise me too much. The IOC for years has been all about "fair" and "equitable." (not a criticism, just an observation)

That being said, I knew the fact that no Olympic games had been held on the South American continent would carry a ton of weight.

 

[Johnv]

I guess I better brush up on my Portuguese.

 

[BigBossman]

I'm glad that they got it. I sure didn't want it here in the States.

 

[preachinjesus]

I too am glad they decided to hold it in Rio. I'm still waiting for Africa to be able to host the games. Soon enough it will happen.

The Olympics do represent something terrific about our world when we all come together, even for a short time, to celebrate our unity.

 

[BigBossman]

The main reason I didn't want it to be held here was mostly for the simple fact that it leaves our nation vunerable. If people can think back to 1996 when it was in Atlanta, remember the bombings? While it wasn't done by a foreign terrorist, crime tends to skyrocket while all of that is going on.

That's why I would rather see another country get it. Let them deal with the problems associated with hosting the Olympics.

Regardless of where its held, I know that we will dominate the other countries in most of the events (not all of them). I'll definetely be looking forward to the boxing event.

 

[Roy]

In my own opinion, if the president really had wanted Chicago to be seriously considered by the IOC, he should have stayed home and let a professional public relations rep handle it, or at least have taken a professional with him. He could have simply said thanks for the privilege of being allowed to come there, then he could have introduced the P.R. guy and let him do all the persuading.

Obama is just arrogant to believe that foreigners would be so enamored with a U.S. president that they would naturally vote his way.

Another thought: the voltage requirements for Obama's teleprompter may not have been compatible with the foreign receptacle which it was connected to. Had the teleprompter been up to snuff, our president would surely have won them over.

Roy

 

[Robert Snow]

I'm glad Brazil got the nod. :thumbs:

 

[go2church]

From all I've read Brazil was the leading candidate going in, it would have had to been a staff turn into a snake for the vote to go for Chicago. Blaming President Obama really is sour grapes revealing more about you then his effort with the IOC.

 

[Nonsequitur]

According to a certain late nite host, since the olympics will be held in Rio de Janiero, all olympians will now be topless.:tongue3:

 

[Roy]

From all I've read Brazil was the leading candidate going in, it would have had to been a staff turn into a snake for the vote to go for Chicago. Blaming President Obama really is sour grapes revealing more about you then his effort with the IOC.

If no one believed that the president could have been a factor in the IOC's decision, then why was he there and at such a tremendous tax-payer expense? My contention is that if you want the job done right, then hire a professional. Obama should understand that since he used professional PR types to run his campaign.

Jessie Jackson is also feeling let down. He remarked that we sent in our A-Team and he can't understand what went wrong. I'm sure though that he will find a way to blame it on racism and not the president.

Roy

 

[just-want-peace]

Roy sez:

Jessie Jackson is also feeling let down. He remarked that we sent in our A-Team and he can't understand what went wrong. I'm sure though that he will find a way to blame it on racism and not the president.

Also, considering all the denigration the "0" has dumped on the US in his short span, why would the IOC even consider the "whacked out" US hosting the Olympics????

Denial looks like a slam dunk to me!

 

[Crabtownboy]

Roy sez:

Also, considering all the denigration the "0" has dumped on the US in his short span, why would the IOC even consider the "whacked out" US hosting the Olympics????

Denial looks like a slam dunk to me!

After all is said and done I do not believe it had anything to do with Obama or US politics ... but IOC politics. As stated previously the IOC and the USIOC are not exactly on friendly terms.

Also it was a way for nations who are unhappy with the US to stick it to us in a safe, save for them, way.

 

[KenH]

considering all the denigration the "0" has dumped on the US

Yeah, let's just bury our heads in the sand and not admit that the United States has any faults.

 

[KenH]

Question: Would those who are glad to see the United States fail to win the bid for these games have the same attitude if it had been Ronald Reagan who went to Copenhagen as president and the United States had failed to win the bid?

 

[Roy]

After all is said and done I do not believe it had anything to do with Obama or US politics ... but IOC politics. As stated previously the IOC and the USIOC are not exactly on friendly terms.

Also it was a way for nations who are unhappy with the US to stick it to us in a safe, save for them, way.

I'm sure that's right. Injecting the top U.S. political leader into the mess just sealed our rejection when things were already going against us. I'll bet previous U.S. presidents chose to stay away from those I.O.C. meetings because of the negative impact which their presence would have had on I.O.C. decisions with regard to the U.S.

Roy

 

[Twizzler]

Pah! The POTUS neither helped nor hindered our position with the IOC in my opinion. I'm disappointed it's not in the US for selfish reasons, but quite happy to see Rio get a chance.

I see no reason for this decision to involve US politics as it obviously does NOT.

I do think it was wrong of the POTUS to get directly involved though, previous posters stating that we should have hired a pro PR person were right on the money, IMHO.

 

[targus]

Question: Would those who are glad to see the United States fail to win the bid for these games have the same attitude if it had been Ronald Reagan who went to Copenhagen as president and the United States had failed to win the bid?

Yes.

I am glad that we didn't get the olympics because I believe that it would have been a high priority target for some random nut job terrorist.

 

[KenH]

I am glad that we didn't get the olympics because I believe that it would have been a high priority target for some random nut job terrorist.

I totally disagree with this attitude. We are the United States and we don't run away like a bunch of cowards.

 

[Revmitchell]

I totally disagree with this attitude. We are the United States and we don't run away like a bunch of cowards.

I agree that is not a good reason but we did not need it to be certain for other reasons.