We should assume that Brazil had a better bid.

[grantcart]

Unless something substantive is revealed we should be good sports congratulate Brazil and assume that the IOC made the decision because they had the best bid.


Before gifts to IOC voters had a big impact and old personal connections also had a big impact.

It was given to Athens on largely symbolic and emotional reasons and the IOC probably learned its lesson with all of the problems that arose from their lack of preparations and would not give a bid out to a city that didn't have an excellent bid.

So the fact that Brazil is the first South American country to get it probably had some effect but I doubt that they would have given it to them if they didn't have an outstanding bid.

Unless there is something specific that is reported let's just assume that Brazil had a better bid.

To speculate on other issues is not only patronizing it tinges of a colonial and even racist point of view.


Congratulations Rio!

[H2O Man]

1. Recommended.

No need to blame it on Rio.

[dysfunctional press]

2. i think that the ioc was also reacting to the previous 8 years of american hegemony.

it was more about the worldwide damage caused by lil' boots and his gang of thugs, than obama.

[Barack_America]

8. True. I don't see how that couldn't have played a role.

Is it wise to give an Olympic bid to a country involved in 2 wars?

Is that in keeping with the Olympic spirit?

It truly did look like the Chicago bid was lacking in enthusiasm, but doesn't that accurately represent our country right now, after all?

[grantcart]

10. except even that diminishes Rio's accomplishment.

Rio also beat out Spain and Tokyo who did not have Bush.

[Barack_America]

16. Chicago came in last.

Many of us reacting not so much to Rio's win, but an apparent slap in the face to Chicago, which was thought to have a superior bid even if the presentation of it was lacking.

It's not shocking that Rio won, but it is a bit shocking that Chicago came in last.

[reggie the dog]

18. BBC radio

said that Chicago was the favorite this morning.

[dysfunctional press]

21. chicago had the overall 'best' bid.

rio has been made bids for the past 3 olympiads(including this one).

i hope that chicago tries again for 2020- but i doubt that they will.

[timeforpeace]

19. Bush's fault! It never loses it's panache.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lapfog_1]

11. I guess she is having a "maraca moment"? - n/t

[Mudoria]

26. With the crime rate in Rio she perhaps had her clothes stolen..

I'm not objecting to her imiginative substitute however..

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. I am glad South America has finally won the event!

This kind of event SHOULD be moved from continent to continent.

[theHandpuppet]

5. Agreed.

It was time they had a chance to shine for a world audience. Sometimes the American sense of entitlement really irks me.

[Barack_America]

6. They are separate issues.

Why Rio got the bid and why the media seems dumbfounded Chicago didn't.

I absolutely believed Rio had the better bid. I saw a bit of Chicago's video presentation and it was downright dreary.

But the media made the assumption before the presentations were made that Chicago would likely win. That's what smacks of racism and colonialism, IMO.

[grantcart]

7. I agree the public presentation was terrible but the more important issues

probably had to do with infrastructure, although the fact that they would choose a dreary speaker shows they weren't on the ball as much as they thought they were.

[Barack_America]

13. They say that, based on infrastructure, Chicago had the best bid.

And that, based on already existing infrastructure, Madrid was tops (already had 78% of venues built).

Rio was promising the biggest investment, however.

So I really do believe this was in part an issue of how emotionally compelling the bid was. Brazil outdid us. However, I can't help but wonder what the IOC thought of our current involvement in two wars and the message that would send about the Olympic Games.

[quiet.american]

9. I like Lula; so if it wasn't to be Chicago, I'm glad it was Rio. nt

[BlooInBloo]

12. Anything other than "congratulations, Rio" and moving on is just weird.

[grantcart]

24. very

[MineralMan]

25. +1

[WyLoochka]

14. I was hoping Rio

would get them. Yes, undoubtedly they put together a great bid, but I think they were probably a heavy favorite all along due to no country in South America ever having had the Olympics.

Why should the Olympics go to the same old, same old? The US has had the summer games four times and the winter games four times.

Europe has had the summer games 15 times and the winter games 13 times.

Countries outside of the US and EU have only had the summer games 6 times and the winter games 4 times.

Time to give some other places a chance. Brazil is a great choice.

[myrna minx]

15. Congratulations Rio.

:applause:

[Common Sense Party]

17. Parabéns, Brasil!

[ctaylors6]

20. Did you see video today? Rio: party on beach; Chicago: cold drizzle

I know it's not that simplistic at all, but every sports reporter in the world is probably celebrating

[Blue_Tires]

22. they did, and it was obvious

and I had said as much weeks ago -- there were too many factors in their favor to award it somewhere else (not least of which was the fact alone that it had never been in South America before)...I'm just pissed over the:

1. Celebrating the fact that no matter who won; as long as Chicago didn't get it...

2. The "Obama should NEVER have gone" talking point, which I'm seeing on both the left and right -- Folks, if it were any other U.S. city than Chicago, he probably would have stayed home...But it's his city and he HAS to put in an appearance, especially since it was an outside shot from the start (nevermind the fact that he was only gone for ONE goddamned day and the MSM is thinking the country will fall apart if he isn't at his desk, AND the fact that leaders from the other countries showed)...

3. The whole "We're better off without the heavy olympic burden and its price tag" meme: I'm not from Chicago; so I don't know everything -- If people want to argue that they have zero confidence of city leadership putting on a great summer games that reaps benefits for the entire populace for years to come; then I'm willing to listen...But PLEASE don't say the oympics are just some big black hole of debt that has no tangible rewards and the host city is doing us a favor by eating a loss...

[Nikki Stone1]

23. Or, BRIC is beginning to have some real clout

and the US is on the downswing.