Shocker! Chicago eliminated in 2016 voting - Olympic Sports- nbcsports.msnbc.com »
Posted By y_soitenly 2 months, 3 weeks ago in Sports
Lobbying by Obamas goes for naught; Rio, Madrid remain alive for Games
COPENHAGEN - Chicago was eliminated in the first ballot of voting for the 2016 Olympics on Friday, a stunning defeat for the city that was expected to be one of the two finalists. Not even the presence of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama — nor a long list of celebrities — was enough to help the United States’ third-largest city.
Chicago had seemed to pick up momentum in the last few days, with many International Olympic Committee members seemingly charmed by Mrs. Obama. But when IOC president Jacques Rogge announced the results of the first vote, Chicago was the city that fell out.
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y_soitenly
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BB642 months, 2 weeks ago
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That's easy. Did you see the other presentations? Spain, Brazil and the rest told why they would want to host it. They explained what they would provide and how they would help the Olympics. Chicago, oh let's be serious, team Obama told why it would be good for Chicago. I don't only mean the ridiculous claims of Michelle how she was watching it on her father's knee. Yea right she's my age. If I was sitting on my dad's knee, there would be a major problem.
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Obama flew in, did his why it would benefit me and flew back. He spent less than 5 hours there. It was all Obama and why I should have it. Chicago did a pretty good job pushing and preparing the city, too bad their pitch man can't sell. He's a one trick pony, Hope and Change.... He didn't lose it alone but he certainly didn't help.
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pc252 months, 3 weeks ago
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http://hotair.com/archives/2009/10/02/breaking-chi...
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It was one of the biggest upsets in IOC voting history, and will likely have ramifications throughout the U.S. Olympic Committee. USOC chairman Larry Probst was stone-faced as he and acting CEO Stephanie Streeter walked down a hallway.
It’s only right that I eat crap here for having insisted that this was a done deal and that The One wouldn’t dare risk his political capital on a completely needless humiliation. You’re a bigger sucker than I thought, champ.
Luciano Reyes speculated that Chicago was undone by a negative reputation internationally.
“The violence in the schools became an international issue, and all the corruption, the rest of the world just sees us as Crook Town,” said Reyes, 59, currently unemployed, who bought his first TV two decades ago specifically to watch the Olympics.
“We weren’t unified as a city. We didn’t get behind this enough,” said Rob Fox of Chicago.
“Michael Jordan didn’t show up,” said Margaret Johnson of Chicago. “His city asked him for help and he turned his back on us.”
Is that going to be the White House spin? It’s Michael Jordan’s fault?
You have a problem when an honor students head gets split open by a 2 by 4 and the video goes viral. Obama's home town has a world wide perception of violence and corruption that even a personal pitch by Obama couldn't overcome. The problem apparently was that Acorn and the SEIU were not on the IOC committee. See what happens when you run an honest election......-
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beavith12 months, 3 weeks ago
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i hear what you're saying, but i seem to recall something of a minor crime situation in Rio, too.
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Michael Jordan. yeah... its all his fault. :-)
actually, i think any south american city stood a better than fair chance of competing, just because they are in south america.
no big deal. we'll get more chances yet. -
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cowboygrandpa2 months, 3 weeks ago
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I'm not surprised !!!
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We are still at war with countries, we are having financial difficulties.
The Olympics would have been a prime terrorist target to show the world just how far we have fallen.
All people see is the profit and prestige.
Not the cost and security aspects, look how much the Olympics cost China. There is still a stench over the judging there to me.
Let Rio have it. They have never staged an Olympics and deserve a chance to show case their country.-
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epiphannyy2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Let Rio have it. They have never staged an Olympics and deserve a chance to show case their country.
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EXACTLY!!! And we have, in contrast, hosted TWO out of the last SEVEN summer games. Why were we even in the running for it so soon anyway? The Olympics is an international organization, not an American one. It's time they let countries from all over the world host instead of the ones who have already had their chance. I'm happy for them and I certainly don't see this as a "loss" for America. We've had our turn. Now it's time to let others have their time.
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tadair9192 months, 3 weeks ago
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yeah right. real big shocker. from an international stand point, this move would have been just about as popular if germany hosted the olypmics during their war.
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it would have been asking for trouble, anyway.
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_in_the_Olymp...-
capecoralMComment removed: Retracted by user9 Replies
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hefaa1Comment removed: Hard Banned
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lum-chate2 months, 3 weeks ago
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British bookmakers had Chicago pulling away in the last hours as the clear but not overwhelming favorite.
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Obama the first US leader to lobby for the Olympics had to be embarrassed that his pleading fell on deaf ears. CNN has to be ashamed
that before the vote their reporter fantasized that Mrs. Obama had taken Copenhagen by storm. Hardly the case. -
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vor2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Pele is still a bigger star internationally than Jordan. And certainly has a better image. I actually am good friends with several old friends of the OIC head Jacques Rogge. Don't know the back story yet but may be able to get some insight by next week. This should be a disappointment to all Americans not just Chicagoans. We will not be hosting these games (Winter or Summer) until at least 2020 and if you look at the list of the US candidates (Boston, Detroit?, Minn/St. Paul) it doesn't look good even then. The Olympics are a showcase for the selected country (ask the Chinese) and this time Brazil gets to shine. I do look forward to the Rio Olympics in '16 as well as the London Games of '12.
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Politicians have less pull on these selections than one might think precisely because of 1936. It is the overall plan, the presentation, the funding, all of which typically take years, are the usual keys. But some will go ahead and blame Obama and take the easy way out. -
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webs-directory2 months, 3 weeks ago
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I don't see this as a shock. The USA has been losing its influence in the world since George W. Bush took office. Most attribute the global economic crisis with poorly regulated financial markets in the United States. Unlike the politicians in Washington DC, world leaders do not reward such failures.
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mesodude2 months, 3 weeks ago
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There are some great lesson for us in this. The first is about humility. We are *not* the world (no matter how many times cons tell themselves we (or at least *they*) are the center of the universe.
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A second lesson is that when you don't get your way there's no reason to have a hissy fit, start packing guns, throw a tantrum, or demonize other countries by re-naming various fast foods and condiments. ;-(Our President has shown that, even in defeat, he's still a class act. I can only imagine how Bush and Cheney would have reacted. In fact, let's change the subject. ;-(-
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Albmore2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Bush or Cheney would never had taken the role of olypic spokes person. If anyoe has learned humility it is the Obama/Opra clan who think their presence make everyone blindly follow them. It was a waist of tax payers money.Of course we all have so much money now I guess it doesn't matter atleast not to the left.
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amazed2 months, 3 weeks ago
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The article on AOL.com quoted some Olympic official as saying that the committee thought that Obama's quick fly-through as seen as too business-like and disrespectful. I don't know if he was speculating or if he actually knew. The article is on the front page of aol.com, if you want to read it yourself.
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hefaa1Comment removed: Hard Banned
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epiphannyy2 months, 3 weeks ago
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I don't understand why anyone is shocked by this. We really didn't deserve to have these games so soon again. Think about it...two out of the last seven games were held in America. What made anyone think we would get them again so soon? We aren't the only country in the world. Plus, we have other issues to deal with right now. I know Americans aren't used to losing like this, but I see nothing at all wrong with this decision. I thought it was pretty arrogant for us to think we had a real chance at being chosen again so soon.
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I'm happy for Rio, but was actually pulling for Madrid since Rio is getting the World Cup in 2014 too. Although, that might be what gave them the advantage..already having a world class sporting arena before 2016. In any event, I think it's fine that we didn't win this one. The money that would have been sunk into that can certainly be better spent. -
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injest2 months, 3 weeks ago
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MESO
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"There are some great lesson for us in this. The first is about humility. We are *not* the world (no matter how many times cons tell themselves we (or at least *they*) are the center of the universe."
Dude, Obama went thinking he is the king of the world and his presence absolutely guaranteed Chicago would get the Olympics.
He made this Olympic thing a PRIORITY ABOVE
The Economy, now at 9.8% unemployed.
Our Troops fighting in A-stan.
His Heath care thing.
Obama is now a world wide joke!
Instant karmas gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
What in the world you thinking of
What on earth you tryin to do-
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y_soitenly2 months, 3 weeks ago
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injest,
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Re: "Dude, Obama went thinking he is the king of the world and his presence absolutely guaranteed Chicago would get the Olympics."
I disagree with your statements. I don't think he was thinking that, at all!
Maybe you forgot that Obama is from Chicago.
If YOU were President and if YOU were from Chicago, wouldn't you also be thinking that, 'now is the time to help seal the deal on the Chicago Olympics?'
It is only natural for one to think like this.
Re: "He made this Olympic thing a PRIORITY ABOVE"
Sorry, but I would have too.
The IOC made their decision, today, 10/02/09.
All the other problems in the world, can wait for one more day.
I think our President and the First Lady, made the right choice, to go to Copenhagen and give it their best shot, on trying to get the 2016 Olympics in Chicago.
It is sad and unfortunate that we, Americans, lost our fight to have the Olympics hosted here, in the USA, once again.
Good Luck to Rio. -
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mesodude2 months, 3 weeks ago
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"He made this Olympic thing a PRIORITY ABOVE"
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--Wow...LOL Then you must have been *really* upset when Bush was chilling out for four days last summer in China. I think that was several years after he had already broken the record for most vacationing President in history. And it was just one month before...um, well...let's just say September 2009 was not a great month for the GOP and leave it at that. No reason to dwell on the negative (like the economy imploding and Bush having to come groveling to Congress to help BAIL out his corporate buddies). Anyway, it's not like anything was going on during the previous 8 years that required Bush's attention.
Just 9/11, two wars, Katrina, two Supreme court vacancies, the extortion of America by MORE of Bush's friends (in Big Oil this time), Abramoff, Plame Gate, Gonzo Gate...phew...I gotta rest... ;-P
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slate2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Remember the congressman that was almost running, trying to not answer questions about ACORN a few weeks back? He too tried to place the blame on Bush. When will Democrats take the blame for anything? I bet if they won the Games for Chi Town they would have said, OBAMA finally overcame the negative image BUSH put on this country. It's sad to see a Party that can't just take something for what it is and not blame someone else for their failures.
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slate2 months, 3 weeks ago
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A couple of thought s here,,,,,
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Won't Rio actually be in the middle of winter when the 'summer games' are being held? It just seems a bit strange.
Though when I think of summer Olympics I think of women Beach Volley Ball,,,,, so the beaches in Rio seem more appropriate.
Another thing,,,,,, isn't Rio crime ridden to the point that there are places that even the police dare not enter?
Don't they have a major shortage of housing to put up athletes and all around infrastructure problems?
Congrats, but it still seems odd to be in the southern hemisphere in the winter and having the summer games.-
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german-shepard2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Reality check, Slate. A few years back Australia also held the Olympics and I didn't see anyone freezing then. I understand that Rio is very close to the equator, too.
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If a country has the wherewithal to change their problems in a positive way, then more power to them.
The United States of Brazil is supposed to become the 6th or 7th largest economy by 2016, so there should be plenty of funds to take care of all of these "problems" that you have proposed. -
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Klarissa2 months, 3 weeks ago
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How many millions of dollars did the trip to Denmark cost.
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Four planes for Michele and Barry -(they went at different times), plus several staff members, plus some legislators.
Security, teleprompters, and support staff.
I find it hard to believe that someone who is supposed to be so smart would risk his reputation by doing this. He was trying a payback for his Chicago supporters, when he should have been in the oval office with his Afghanistan commander and his advisors tending to the duties of a president for the WHOLE country.-
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epiphannyy2 months, 3 weeks ago
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In all honesty, don't you realize he would have been criticized no matter what he did in this situation? If he hadn't gone, he would have been accused of turning his back on his hometown and country when they needed him most and blamed for the loss. If Chicago had won without his "support" then he would have been blamed for ignoring the will of the people and the win without him would have been touted as proof that he's insignificant because they didn't "need" him to win.
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No matter what Obama did in this situation, his opposition would have criticized him for it. It was lose/lose...like just about every situation these days. He's criticized for wins and failures alike. Just look at Cash4Clunkers as proof that even an over-the-top success is spun into a failure by the right. -
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injest2 months, 3 weeks ago
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y_soitenly
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“Maybe you forgot that Obama is from Chicago.
If YOU were President and if YOU were from Chicago, wouldn't you also be thinking that, 'now is the time to help seal the deal on the Chicago Olympics?'
It is only natural for one to think like this.”
Uhm No.
The President is President of ALL America, not just one city.
Send the First Lady, Yes.
The POTUS, with all that’s going bad here and in A-Stan, NO.
“All the other problems in the world, can wait for one more day.”
This tells me a lot about you.
The Olympics is not a problem. 9.8% unemployment IS A PROBLEM!
The Olympics is not a problem. US troops fighting and dying while the Pres “dithers” IS A PROBLEM!
The Olympics is not a problem. Getting his Healthcare plan passed IS A PROBLEM!
Is this clear enough for you?
If he had gotten the 2016 Olympics he could have called that a success, noting that 7 years from now it will add a lot of temp jobs.
But he didn’t.
Worse, he made it a higher priority than ANY of the above.
The USA has hosted the Olympics 8 time beginning in 1904.
And NO POTUS has ever been involved in getting the Olympics.-
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y_soitenly2 months, 3 weeks ago
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injest,
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Yes, I know they are all major problems and these problems will, unfortunately, be with us for a long time to come.
You can't fix these problems overnight. I wish they would, but they can't. But I am confident that they are working diligently to resolve them.
That is why, I said this earlier: “All the other problems in the world, can wait for one more day.”
Let me ask you this, Why didn't Congress and/or his administration, stop him from going?
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injest2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Letterman’s top ten list why Chicago lost its bid for the 2016 Olympic games:
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10) The members of the IOC are unAmerican.
9) The members of the IOC acted stupidly.
8) The members of the IOC are an angry mob.
7) The members of the IOC are bitter clingers.
6) The IOC wants to destroy Obama’s Presidency.
5) Fox News still won’t get off the President’s back.
4) Oprah didn’t buy each one of the IOC members a car.
3) The Cubs aren’t the only losers in Chicago.
2) It was a five spiral crash, boys.
1) Blame it on Rio. -
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injest2 months, 3 weeks ago
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How much did vacation record breaker Bush's jaunts to Crawford every five minutes cost us, Klarissa? Exactly. SHADDAP. ;-p
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Are you now claiming this trip was “actually” a vacation?
I have no doubt that by the time Obama’s 4 years are up, he will hold the record for wasting time. -
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NoWayMan2 months, 3 weeks ago
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this is less about chicago and obama and more about rio.
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south america has never hosted the games so its about time, and rio is the perfect spot. beautiful city and brazil is amazing. brazilians are great people. demonstrative. beautiful.
maracana is an incredible stadium. huge. there's literally a moat around the field, which will probably be changed for the olymipcs. seeing a big time soccer game in maracana is beyond imagination, a spectacle. if you're into soccer, its like visiting mecca or the vatican.
the weather will be great since It'll be "winter" in brazil, which is anything but. more like mid 70s (compared to carnaval, when its hot, in the high 80s)
and don't give me no junk about the crime. of course there's crime. just don't be stupid and you'll be fine.
if you've ever thought about going to brazil, the olympics would be an incredible time. and if do go and you happen to be in a cafe when brazil wins a big event, don't be surprised when the celebration begins and everyone starts dancing on the tables.-
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icono12 months, 3 weeks ago
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Agree.
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Brazil is a beautiful country and the people are basically very good natured yet crime can be a problem. However crime, in a way, it is no different than what goes on in any large metropolitan area in the world if one 'watches their step'..
Yet knowing the Brazilians, they will party hard until the games, then party during the games, and party for approx 1.5 to 3 years after the games, in response to getting the games.
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