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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Breaking News: Chicago Loses Bid for 2016 Olympic Games
2009-10-02
NYT
The International Olympic Committee delivered a stunning blow to Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics, knocking it out of the voting in the first round Friday, leaving Rio de Janeiro and Madrid waiting for the announcement of which city will host the Games. Tokyo was eliminated in the second round.

I.O.C. president Jacques Rogge made the announcement as the first round concluded, a surprisingly early exit, especially because of President Barack Obama's whirlwind trip to boost the bid of his adopted city. Mr. Obama was the first American president to make an in-person appeal for a bid city and first lady Michelle Obama had also come earlier this week to lobby I.O.C. members for votes.
He's got the golden touch, he does.
Chicago's bid leaders had worked for nearly four years and spent close to $50 million to bring the Summer Olympics to the United States for the first time in 20 years. Chicago had been considered among Olympic insiders as a favorite to win the Games, along with Rio.

Throngs watching the voting in downtown Chicago's Daley Plaza gasped in disappointment as the announcement was made....
Posted by:Mike

#11  The really interesting part (to me, at least) is that Bush was chastised up and down for his "arrogant" approach to the international community. Now, however, whatever arrogance Bush carried with him pales in comparison to Obama's, and this was just laid bare for all the world to see.
Posted by: eltoroverde   2009-10-02 19:22  

#10  "... Obviously the IOC acted stupidly..."
Posted by: B Hussain Obama   2009-10-02 17:52  

#9  I guess President Jindal won't get to declare the games open. Too bad.
Posted by: BigEd   2009-10-02 17:27  

#8  Chicago is out? Chicago is out?!

Here's a song for that taste in your mouth.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2009-10-02 15:34  

#7  Drudge headline sez:

THE EGO HAS LANDED

That news made my morning. It was totally inappropriate for the President to lobby the IOC, but it was understandable, given his MO.

Good luck with Rio. High Crime Rate. Money losing operation. But the prestige is priceless, like Sarajevo. Heh.

I am going to file a Freedom of Information Request for the report on the carbon footprint of the flight and the carbon offset for this little junket to Copenhagen. Heh, again.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2009-10-02 14:48  

#6  The display of hubris on behalf of the Obamas was nothing short of astounding. Did they honestly think that a mere 4 hours spent in Copenhagen radiating their glory on the IOC would somehow convince them that Chicago was the obvious choice?

"Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make proud."
Posted by: eltoroverde   2009-10-02 14:10  

#5  too bad

the corruption in the Olympics would be a good complement to the corruption in Chicago
Posted by: lord garth   2009-10-02 13:19  

#4  HA-HA!
Posted by: DarthVader   2009-10-02 13:18  

#3  The IOC is one of the few organizations that could make the UN look honest (well, maybe not...).
Posted by: Spot   2009-10-02 13:04  

#2  It's Rio, as expected.
Posted by: European Conservative   2009-10-02 13:03  

#1  IOC = racists in 5,4,3,2...
Posted by: Woozle Uneter9007   2009-10-02 12:57  

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