We're less than two hours away from the moment some of us have been waiting for. The world's most famous Chicagoans, Oprah and the Obamas went over to make their pitch, and now we wait.
As a Chicagoan I've been watching the bid process since all the way back when it was first floated of trying to bid on these games late in the 90's. It feels like this process has gone on forever, but it finally is about to happen.
I honestly kind of hope Rio gets it. I'm sure we'd do a good job with it, but I have no doubt it would be a fiscal nightmare for the city. Between the corruption and the incompetence of our city government things would quickly spiral out of control. But I fear it is coming here anyhow.
Any last minute guesses?
edit: crap, forgot to put an olympic logo on this post.
(edited by spf on 2.10.09 1012) 2007 and 2008 W-League Fantasy Football champion!
Originally posted by spfWe're less than two hours away from the moment some of us have been waiting for. The world's most famous Chicagoans, Oprah and the Obamas went over to make their pitch, and now we wait.
As a Chicagoan I've been watching the bid process since all the way back when it was first floated of trying to bid on these games late in the 90's. It feels like this process has gone on forever, but it finally is about to happen.
I honestly kind of hope Rio gets it. I'm sure we'd do a good job with it, but I have no doubt it would be a fiscal nightmare for the city. Between the corruption and the incompetence of our city government things would quickly spiral out of control. But I fear it is coming here anyhow.
Any last minute guesses?
edit: crap, forgot to put an olympic logo on this post.
(edited by spf on 2.10.09 1012)
It's actually started- if you go to the BBC's (news.bbc.co.uk) website, they have streaming video of the coverage, and...some people aren't going to be happy. Chicago was knocked out in the first round of voting, and Tokyo in the 2nd, so it's a final vote between Rio and Madrid.
You wanted the best, you got... Out of Context Quote of the Week: FROM THE VAULTS.
"I just want the ability to crush a man's neck with my thighs." (JST)
Done and done (as far as the logo, that is). So much for the idea that Chicago would get it just because the Olympics are indebted to the USA's TV money. (a-HEM, Kornheiser y Wilbon)
Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you... The only shock really was Chicago being cut first. With the recent Asian and European presence, it should have come down to Chicago and Rio. I'm curious to see what the vote counts were.
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The only issue I ever had with Obama personally campaigning for the Olympics was that there were more pressing issues to attend to at the moment. But I can't blame him for wanting such a monumental event for his hometown and I can't blame anyone for wanting such an economic boost. Any cost incurred by bringing the Olympics to Chicago would have easily been erased by the drastic rise in tourism. But hey, if the IOCC would rather deal with the alarming number of kidnappings in Rio, that's their prerogative. I'd have rather seen the Olympics in Madrid than Rio.
EDIT: What I don't get? Why are prominent conservatives actively gloating that Chicago lost out? Are they that cynical? No conservative I know wanted America to lose out, so why would they put on party hats over this?
Originally posted by It's FalseThe only issue I ever had with Obama personally campaigning for the Olympics was that there were more pressing issues to attend to at the moment. But I can't blame him for wanting such a monumental event for his hometown and I can't blame anyone for wanting such an economic boost. Any cost incurred by bringing the Olympics to Chicago would have easily been erased by the drastic rise in tourism. But hey, if the IOCC would rather deal with the alarming number of kidnappings in Rio, that's their prerogative. I'd have rather seen the Olympics in Madrid than Rio.
EDIT: What I don't get? Why are prominent conservatives actively gloating that Chicago lost out? Are they that cynical? No conservative I know wanted America to lose out, so why would they put on party hats over this?
(edited by It's False on 2.10.09 1040)
Madrid had no chance, given that Barcelona just got the Games in 1992. I suspect that Madrid making it so far in the ballot was the IOC tossing a bone to Juan Antonio Samaranch. Tokyo's bid actually looked the coolest, to my layman eyes, but I think they were also hurt by geography given that another major Asian city just hosted the last Olympics.
Chicago, you may have caught a break. As someone whose parents lived in Montreal during the 1976 Games and has heard a thousand horror stories, actually living in an Olympic host city isn't all it's cracked up to be. The Olympics are great to visit, but not to actually live through.
If Obama hadn't spoken to the IOC, the conservative attack would've been "why didn't the president care enough to try and bring the Olympics to Chicago? He must hate American! Socialism! Socialism!"
Kirk, crackers are a family food. Happy families. Maybe single people eat crackers, we don't know. Frankly, we don't want to know. It's a market we can do without.
Originally posted by Big BadIf Obama hadn't spoken to the IOC, the conservative attack would've been "why didn't the president care enough to try and bring the Olympics to Chicago? He must hate American! Socialism! Socialism!"
Yes, I'm sure that's exactly what they would have said given the great tradition of Presidents flying to foreign countries to lobby for the Olympics to come their home city. Yeah, how un-American would THAT have been? Sheesh.
Round 1- Madrid 28, Rio 26, Tokyo 22, Chicago 18 (Chicago eliminated)
Round 2- Rio 46, Madrid 29, Tokyo 20 (Tokyo eliminated)
Round 3- Rio 66, Madrid 32
So, once Chicago was knocked off, everything basically swung hard toward Rio, which kind of makes sense. Tokyo's hosted before, and Beijing just hosted, Europe's got 2 of the next 3 games, so Rio was probably the logical choice.
I don't know exactly what Obama was supposed to do with this situation, but I was and am still leaning that he should've taken a pass on this trip. Rio had so much momentum going into this thing with Pele as a centerpiece that it was an uncalculated risk to fly out there, especially when Obama has been in quite a slump these last few months. The smarter move would've been to send out Michael Jordan because I believe the difference between Jordan and Obama from a global sporting perspective is slim. If MJ bombs you can said you did what you could but you have a country full of broke, sick, and generally angry people to help right now and they take priority.
Originally posted by Big BadIf Obama hadn't spoken to the IOC, the conservative attack would've been "why didn't the president care enough to try and bring the Olympics to Chicago? He must hate American! Socialism! Socialism!"
Yes, I'm sure that's exactly what they would have said given the great tradition of Presidents flying to foreign countries to lobby for the Olympics to come their home city. Yeah, how un-American would THAT have been? Sheesh.
Wait, what? Maybe I'm totally misunderstanding you. But it appears that you're saying it was wrong for him to lobby the IOC.
If sending the president to wherever can increase the odds of getting that money to come to the US (rather than anywhere else in the world), then I would say that it his duty to do so.
Originally posted by Mr. BoffoWait, what? Maybe I'm totally misunderstanding you. But it appears that you're saying it was wrong for him to lobby the IOC.
If sending the president to wherever can increase the odds of getting that money to come to the US (rather than anywhere else in the world), then I would say that it his duty to do so.
You mean as compared to the 30 or 40 other times the President HASN'T flown somewhere to lobby for the Olympics? No. I'm gonna take a wild stab at this and say no.
I was merely addressing a poster who decided to throw out some idiotic political conjecture in a thread about the Olympics.
In fact, if Obama (and his wife... and Oprah) HADN'T gone to Denmark, I doubt this would have even been a blip on the national news radar.
Originally posted by Big BadMadrid had no chance, given that Barcelona just got the Games in 1992.
This is why I'm not surprised the U.S. didn't get the 2016 games. The U.S. has hosted four games in my lifetime: Lake Placid, LA, Atlanta, and Salt Lake City.
The beach volleyball in 2016 will be legendary.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
In fact, if Obama (and his wife... and Oprah) HADN'T gone to Denmark, I doubt this would have even been a blip on the national news radar.
I think you're wrong. Other heads of state of state went. if Obama broke with them and did not go and Chicago still lost in the first round, people would've been pointing at that as why they lost. Which obviously would've been wrong.
spf and I seem to be of the same mind about this. Having the Olympics would be neat, but everyone in the area expected Mayor Daley and his friends to be true benefits of money poured into development, figured other issues would be swept under the carpet for the next seven years, and that tickets would be impossible to get. Those that wanted the games just still thought there was enough good past that to make it worth it, but recent polls were split in half for/against.
This is much more a Politics thread, but this is really interesting for where it leaves Mayor Daley. Even though not winning is the same no matter what place you were in, there's a bit of humiliation with going out first. Couple this with the Parking Meter issues (really not as big a deal as everyone's making, but symbolic of everything else gone wrong) and the usual bit of corruption, and Daley's looking vulnerable for the first time in 18 years. The knifes are coming out, and we're just waiting to find out if there's a Brutus among them.
Don't get me wrong, I probably totally would've thrown myself into the Olympics had they been here - like, the world's missing out on me starting a handball blog or something - but part of the allure of seeing the Olympics is going someplace else to see them. So this works fine too.
In fact, if Obama (and his wife... and Oprah) HADN'T gone to Denmark, I doubt this would have even been a blip on the national news radar.
I think you're wrong. Other heads of state of state went. if Obama broke with them and did not go and Chicago still lost in the first round, people would've been pointing at that as why they lost. Which obviously would've been wrong.
Jacques Chirac actually did part of the presentation for Paris for the 2012 bid. Tony Blair attended the announcement ceremony in Singapore on behalf of London for the 2012 games. I'm guessing Bush wasn't even aware New York was a finalist, because he was nowhere to be found. And New York only lost in the second round instead of the first because Putin gave as much of a crap on behalf of Moscow as Bush did for New York.
I don't see a single news story ripping him for it. Or basically even acknowledging it. Nor should they. The same would have held true today had Obama not even mentioned it, let alone showed up.
Originally posted by Super Shane SpearI don't know exactly what Obama was supposed to do with this situation, but I was and am still leaning that he should've taken a pass on this trip. Rio had so much momentum going into this thing with Pele as a centerpiece that it was an uncalculated risk to fly out there, especially when Obama has been in quite a slump these last few months. The smarter move would've been to send out Michael Jordan because I believe the difference between Jordan and Obama from a global sporting perspective is slim. If MJ bombs you can said you did what you could but you have a country full of broke, sick, and generally angry people to help right now and they take priority.
They asked Jordan to go, he declined.
Probably for the best after his HOF speech debacle.