2016 Olympics: Decision on Friday

[crashbb]

There are a few things that concern me about Rio....Also, the news this morning said they have almost NO venues or infrastructure in place to host the games....

(just quoting the relevant bit).

I don't think that this is correct. They hosted the PanAm Games in 2007, and, according to CNN, over half of the venues are already built (a high percentage given that it is 7 years until the games). I'd be very surprised if any of the other cities that over half their venues already built.

More than half of Rio's Olympic venues are built, including state-of-the-art facilities constructed for the 2007 Pan and Parapan American Games: the magnificent Joao Havelange Stadium (the proposed 2016 venue for athletics), the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center, the Rio Olympic Arena (which will host gymnastics and wheelchair basketball), the Rio Olympic Velodrome, the National Equestrian Center and its close neighbor, the National Shooting Center.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/02/olympics.2016/index.html

 

[NotUrsula]

What a total joke this whole thing was. IMHO, this is the beginning of the end of the Olympics. If the USOC and U.S. businesses had any guts, they would boycott bidding on the media contracts for these games. The IOC wants all the U.S. money and they treat things like a business only when it is convenient. To suggest for even a minute that Brazil, Spain, and Japan are somehow purer than the U.S. in terms of corruption is such revisionist history and so blind. I can't believe how angry this vote has made me. I can live with Rio winning, but the entire process is called into question with Chicago being eliminated in the first round. I have lost all excitement for the Olympic movement, a movement that I have embraced for my entire life.

I don't see anyone except perhaps some members of the media suggesting that. No one that I heard on the IOC did. I REALLY, REALLY doubt that consideration entered into the decision much, if at all.

Any time you have this kind of money at stake, a certain amount of corruption is almost a given -- mere potential wouldn't stop anyone from getting the Games.

Honestly I think the rejection has a lot more to do with the relationship between the USOC and the IOC, which isn't good. Also the visa situation. There really is a perception in a good chunk of the world that while the US would really be a cool place to visit, it isn't worth the hassle it takes to legally get there, even as a tourist.

 

[bubie2.5]

I'd be very surprised if any of the other cities that over half their venues already built.

Madrid had 70%. Link here.

 

[crashbb]

Madrid had 70%. Link here.

Maybe that's why they were the last two standing??

As I said, I am surprised (and impressed).

 

[mishasmom]

(just quoting the relevant bit).

I don't think that this is correct. They hosted the PanAm Games in 2007, and, according to CNN, over half of the venues are already built (a high percentage given that it is 7 years until the games). I'd be very surprised if any of the other cities that over half their venues already built.



http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/02/olympics.2016/index.html

I stand corrected. The news anchor I heard that from must have been stating his opinion instead of fact - no big surprise there with our crappy local news!

 

[bubie2.5]

There's a good article here.

Hope that now that the world will be watching they would do something to improve lives in the favelas, and not just build walls around them.

In any case I will be watching and hopefully enjoying the Olympics, cheering for the athletes and specially for the people of Rio, a beautiful place full of lovely people.

 

[rie'smom]

The Olympic committee's decision was a good one.

 

[Planogirl]

Dallas keeps trying to figure how to even contend.

I was personally rooting for Spain but only because Spain fascinates me. It is definitely time for the games to be in South America.

 

[SeedsLuvDisney]

Maybe this has already been talked about, but Michelle Obama mentioned sitting in her dads lap watching Carl Lewis in her speech to the IOC..

She would have been a 20 year old Princeton student when Lewis dominated the 1984 Olympics!! She lying or from a goofy family???

 

[wdwgirl03]

I was hoping Chicago would get it so I could go. Guess that won't be happening anymore.

 

[Magic Mom]

Maybe this has already been talked about, but Michelle Obama mentioned sitting in her dads lap watching Carl Lewis in her speech to the IOC..

She would have been a 20 year old Princeton student when Lewis dominated the 1984 Olympics!! She lying or from a goofy family???

That's funny!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Maybe this has already been talked about, but Michelle Obama mentioned sitting in her dads lap watching Carl Lewis in her speech to the IOC..

She would have been a 20 year old Princeton student when Lewis dominated the 1984 Olympics!! She lying or from a goofy family???

They should have sent me---

I was sitting next to my dad in the LA Coliseum (if that is what it is called) wearing this dorky outfit that my step-mom made for me and that she made for her and him and we all MATCHED---embarrassed out of my mind...watching Carl Lewis.

Time for the next generation of Americans kids to suffer that fate.




(dorky b/c it was an election year and at my ripe old age of 9, I had no concept of what I was wearing..it had elephants and donkeys and was red white and blue. I'm sure it was clearance fabric from the K-mart she worked at. I had some stranger ask if my dad was running for office. Nope--they just dress me like a dork b/c they can. (no I didn't say that to the guy!))

 

[DarthKTrava]

I was hoping Chicago would get it so I could go. Guess that won't be happening anymore.

I didn't go when it was in Atlanta... Sure the event tix were inexpensive but they would've gouged on the hotel rooms.

May Rio do a great job hosting!!!

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I'm glad Rio got it. As far as crime goes, I don't think Chicago is much safer than Rio and Madrid might have been a nightmare.

 

[LukenDC]

What a total joke this whole thing was. IMHO, this is the beginning of the end of the Olympics. If the USOC and U.S. businesses had any guts, they would boycott bidding on the media contracts for these games. The IOC wants all the U.S. money and they treat things like a business only when it is convenient. To suggest for even a minute that Brazil, Spain, and Japan are somehow purer than the U.S. in terms of corruption is such revisionist history and so blind. I can't believe how angry this vote has made me. I can live with Rio winning, but the entire process is called into question with Chicago being eliminated in the first round. I have lost all excitement for the Olympic movement, a movement that I have embraced for my entire life.

I understand and share your disappointment. The IOC will never win any accolades for fairness and transparency. There is much to dislike about its proceedings and the process of awarding the Games.

No one loves the Olympics because it is managed by an undemocratic, corrupt, and self-important organization. People love the Olympics because of the athletes and the pagentry. There are hundreds of wonderful inspiring stories just waiting to be told in Vancouver, London, Sochi, Rio, and future Olympic cities. Don't abandon what is beautiful and wonderful about the Olympics because of a temporary setback to American Olympic aspirations.

 

[declansdad]

What a total joke this whole thing was. IMHO, this is the beginning of the end of the Olympics. If the USOC and U.S. businesses had any guts, they would boycott bidding on the media contracts for these games. The IOC wants all the U.S. money and they treat things like a business only when it is convenient. To suggest for even a minute that Brazil, Spain, and Japan are somehow purer than the U.S. in terms of corruption is such revisionist history and so blind. I can't believe how angry this vote has made me. I can live with Rio winning, but the entire process is called into question with Chicago being eliminated in the first round. I have lost all excitement for the Olympic movement, a movement that I have embraced for my entire life.

How about a little cheese with your whine.

 

[CowboyCO]

Maybe this has already been talked about, but Michelle Obama mentioned sitting in her dads lap watching Carl Lewis in her speech to the IOC..

She would have been a 20 year old Princeton student when Lewis dominated the 1984 Olympics!! She lying or from a goofy family???

C'mon it's not about the truth, it's about the speech. Either that or she and "Daddy" have a, uh... errr.. close. relationship.

 

[Caradana]

From a logistical and transportation standpoint, Rio is going to make Athens look like the Jetsons. I can't wait to see, in 2013, when they realize "oh my *" and they ask the US for help with ... EVERYTHING. Security, supply chain, scheduling, accommodations, village, glitz, opening + closing ... this is the freshman team about to face the varsity powerhouse. This will not be easy.

 

[Uuaww]

From a logistical and transportation standpoint, Rio is going to make Athens look like the Jetsons. I can't wait to see, in 2013, when they realize "oh my *" and they ask the US for help with ... EVERYTHING. Security, supply chain, scheduling, accommodations, village, glitz, opening + closing ... this is the freshman team about to face the varsity powerhouse. This will not be easy.

Not True! Opening: Carnival, Closing: Carnival. Done. End of Discussion.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I really thought that Madrid would get it, but when it came down to it this is the first time that it will be in South America ever. So, it is a great opportunity for Rio de Janeiro. I only wish that our President and first lady didn't use the government resources to travel all that way. Such expensive unofficial business.