In Copenhagen today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has chosen Rio de Janeiro as the location for the 2016 Olympic Games, with the South American city beating out Madrid on a vote of 66-32. The announcement of Rio’s Olympic victory was made by IOC president Jacques Rogge.
To the surprise of many, Chicago was voted out in the first round. President Barack Obama, the first American President to take an in-person interest in an Olympic Bid City. had taken a specific interest in his adopted city, flying to Denmark to rally the International Olympic Committee around the idea of a Chicago Olympics. First Lady Michelle Obama flew out as well to lobby IOC members for votes as well.
According to the New York Times, Chicago’s bid leaders spent almost $50 million towards bringing the Summer Olympics to America for the first time in 20 years, with New York’s attempt failing for 2012. Atlanta, Georgia was the site of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
The last Olympics hosted in America was the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Each bid city, Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid, respectively made presentations to the 104 members of the IOC, with Chicago’s being led by President and Mrs. Obama. After a proposal filled with emotion and humanity, a member of the IOC asked about the comfort foreigners would feel upon entering America for the games, according to the Times.
President Obama responded that “One of the legacies I want to see is a reminder that America at its best is open to the world.” He then proceeded to remind the committee that the White House and State Department would ensure smooth sailing for all visitors.
Tokyo followed and proceeded to emphasize the environmentally friendly plans they had for the games, as well as the positive influence the Olympics would have on Japanese youth. Previous evaluations had found Tokyo’s bid lacking and bid leader’s for Japan attempted to persuade IOC member otherwise.
Rio, a popular bid-city, wanted to be the first city in South America to host the Olympics. Among many world powers, Brazil is the only country not to have hosted an Olympic Game, a point that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, emphatically made.
The Brazilian President stated that “for the others it would be just one more Games, for us it would be an unparalleled opportunity. It would send a message the Olympic Games belong to all people, all continents and all humanity.”
The presentation also attempted to dissuade the rumors of continual criminal acts in Rio, with Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral saying that changes had been made in the country. The Times pointed out that the Pan American games, which were held in Rio in 2007, had no reports of crime.
Madrid petitioned last, making its fourth bid at an Olympic Games. Spain was voted out in 2012 in the third round after receiving most of the votes in the previous round. According to the Times, Madid repeatedly emphasized the mantra “Sport makes us equal. It makes us better,” and enforced their passion and improvement, as well as their strong feelings of community.
With Chicago going out in the first round and Tokyo in the second, Madrid and Rio were left to battle it out in the final round. Announcing the winner of the Olympic bid, Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, stated that in every competition, “there could be only one winner.” At around 11:30 EST, overwhelming cheers went up as Rio de Janeiro was announced, and South America will see its first Olympic Games.
Kaitlin’s Take
So why did Chicago get eliminated from the final round? College News thinks that this web site should be able to explain it all.
Nick’s Take
Chicago took a hard hit by not being announced as the host of the 2016 Olympic games, and it hurts even more that Chicago was the last choice the IOC wanted the Olympics to take place. It was almost a slap in the face for a city deemed as a front-runner to come in last, especially after lobbying by the President himself and another big name in Oprah. But on the other hand, only 47 percent of Chicago residents wanted the games to come to the city, according to a Chicago Tribune poll.
Some may think the IOC purposely slighted the United States, but Rio made a better case for itself. They have never hosted the Olympics, and South America has never hosted the games over many centuries. It does hurt a little bit, but at the same one should feel happy that a country in South America finally got its own chance to shine.
