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Why Chicago Failed To Win The Olympics

npr.org — The Windy City's political talents were offset by new rules meant to protect International Olympic Committee voters from the sort of influence peddling that might have worked in the past.

Who dugg this? Made popular Oct 4, 2009

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  • Maraud3r, on 10/04/2009, -1/+50Hmm. I thought this was why? http://www.olympicringschicago.com/
  • samard2002, on 10/04/2009, -6/+45How to tell if you're far too wrapped up in the American red vs blue political hysteria:

    1. You give a ***** about this.

    Seriously, there are other god damn cities in the world. Yes, even cities outside of America. Shocking, I know.

    Chicago getting or not getting the Olympics does not mean a single thing.
  • calypsoschnitzl, on 10/04/2009, -2/+34Chicago failed to get the Olympics because it was South America's turn to finally get the Olympics. SIMPLE AS THAT.
  • googooly, on 10/04/2009, -5/+36Can we get over this now....
  • quirkopatra, on 10/04/2009, -0/+31Good submission. Sheds light beyond the finger pointing going on.
  • 42Vindictive, on 10/04/2009, -13/+41I love how America ***** a brick when they don't get to host their 9th Olympic Games. The entire continent of South America has never had the games, but because a black man is president, the U.S. should just be handed them. Stop acting like sore losers, and suck it up.
  • lohphat, on 10/04/2009, -3/+28I don't but maybe treating every international visitor like a potential criminal by fingerprinting them may have had an influence.
  • adamward, on 10/04/2009, -3/+22Seriously, it's pathetic. The people upset over this are acting like the whole world just *****-slapped us in the face.

    The olympics in Brazil will be awesome. Nice weather, nice culture, beautiful scenery.
  • Spuy767, on 10/04/2009, -16/+28We should already be over it. The city is a *****, run by crooks, no one should want to hold the olympic games there.
  • superkendall, on 10/04/2009, -8/+19Actually the Danes spoke on behalf of many in the Olypmpic comitte, that Obama's visit was somewhat insulting in it's brevity:

    http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/archives/789

    Basically you can't just roll in for a day and take home the olympics. Who'd have thought?
  • Spuy767, on 10/04/2009, -1/+11People refuse to understand that it's not an insult that chicago didn't get picked.
  • ZonGuy, on 10/04/2009, -3/+12Hang out in the Chicago loop and tell me that it's a crappy, dirty city. Yes Chicago has its problems, but it is a very beautiful city with incredible food, art, history, architecture, and culture. So many cool neighborhoods. Try visiting Millennium Park sometime. Chicago is looking better and better. If you choose to go to the gang-infested neighborhoods or base your beliefs off of certain news sources dedicated to bringing crime and violence to light, then yes, you might come away with the idea of Chicago that you described. Point is, this is a great ***** city.
  • ShingoEX, on 10/04/2009, -3/+12"He has not achieved anything"

    You do realize he's the PRESIDENT, don't you? Stop being stupid.
  • Drakoi, on 10/04/2009, -26/+34Ding, ding, ding. I know this one! Let's see. Uh.... cause it's a crappy, dirty, old city with a gang problem, massive unemployment, and terrible sports facilities. Also, they didn't bribe the right people enough.
  • robmanwile, on 10/04/2009, -0/+8This is one Chicago citizen saying gratz to South America.

    The idea of having the games in Chicago was a very polarizing subject that split Chicagoans apart, half wanted em and half didn't. Now that its decided I'm happy that its over.

  • sputnikv, on 10/04/2009, -0/+8the point is not that chicago lost the bid, the point is that rio got it. congratulations to them
  • bubba9999, on 10/04/2009, -0/+7Because Peter Cetera sucks at the 100m dash...
  • tazzydnc, on 10/05/2009, -0/+6Yeah 'cause Rio definitely doesn't have poverty, unemployment, or gangs...
  • RomeyRome, on 10/04/2009, -5/+11Racism...duhh.
  • modsuperstar, on 10/05/2009, -0/+5I don't get why this was such a shock. Chicago was never going to win because the organizing committees nowadays are focused on putting these big events in bold, new places. When you group Canada and the US together they've hosted 7 Olympic games since 1976 on North American soil. The recent past Olympics have been hosted in Australia for the first time and China for the first time. They were just looking to grab the first chance to host an Olympics in South America. The World Cup is being hosted in South Africa next year. America, you just have to wake up to the reality that you are no longer the centre of the universe and that just because you have an entry doesn't mean you're going to win.
  • Spuy767, on 10/04/2009, -4/+9But this is Obama, not some mere man.
  • nmanguy, on 10/04/2009, -11/+15Obama and Oprah went there, pretty much expecting the Olympic Committee to bow to their awesomeness, and give them the games, and Obama could be passed off as the savior of the Olypmics. Then, of course, those old guys smack him in the face. Obama isn't as cool as Beijing, I guess, since they were cool enough to host last year's games.
  • Khast, on 10/04/2009, -2/+6Well, according to the 1990 law...ANY bribe would have disqualified the bid...not saying it can't possibly happen, but some people are actually honest out there.
  • willanthony, on 10/04/2009, -4/+8as far as presidents go, he seems like a pretty humble guy.
  • quirkopatra, on 10/05/2009, -1/+5We didn't ***** a brick. Chicago was disappointed...but the average American really doesn't give two ***** about this. It's mostly political talkers who are yammering....

    All this will be over in a week. Maybe less.

    I haven't seen a single person say, "WE WERE ROBBED!" Just political finger-pointing.
  • docbob84, on 10/05/2009, -0/+4Maybe it's just me, but I thought he was talking about Rio for a second there...
  • docbob84, on 10/05/2009, -0/+4Absolutely. I'd have loved to have it in Chicago, the city could use the revitalization and tourism the Olympics would bring with them, and people would deal with a month or two of disruptions in traffic, etc. But I'm glad if it didn't go to Chicago, it went to Rio. If it had gone to Madrid I'd have been angry; people talk about how the US has hosted the games so much but we've only had 4 summer games. Europe has had 30, including 3 in London alone! I'm glad to see it go someplace new, hopefully an African or Middle-eastern country can put up a bid someday soon.
  • quirkopatra, on 10/05/2009, -0/+4No, Jake, look upthread.

    It's BUSH'S fault!
  • YouGotMyDigits, on 10/04/2009, -4/+8I blame it on George W. Bush.
  • Spuy767, on 10/04/2009, -4/+7I've spent much time in Chicago. My best friend moved there to persue an acting career and I visit him several times a year. So I've seen what a ***** place the less-affluent partsw of chicago are.
  • reticulate, on 10/04/2009, -2/+5I don't get it.

    How is showing up and saying "We'd like the Olympics" representative of hubris?
  • quirkopatra, on 10/05/2009, -0/+3They? You mean the ones blaming Bush for this?

    I'm a Republican. I don't blame Obama. I'm sure that a lot played into this decision. Personally, I don't think he should have gone after saying he wasn't going....but there or not, there were reasons Rio should have gotten it.

    While we're at it, I don't know why Oprah went and I think Michelle's offhand "tough" comments were tacky.

    But I don't think any of this stopped the Olympics coming to Chicago...and I'm in Illinois. We were told that Chicago was a front-runner. I don't know if someone was trying to make it a self-fulfilling prophecy or whether it was just hubris.

    I'm pleased for Rio. I'm sure they'll do a great job
  • Subduction, on 10/04/2009, -2/+5But for some reason that doesn't keep people from calling him uppity.

  • mysticalone, on 10/04/2009, -3/+6Our black Jesus will not pardon your sins when it's your time to enter the States.
  • inactive, on 10/05/2009, -0/+2Exactly. The man is one of the biggest narcissists EVER! He truly believes that he can use his charisma to persuade anyone to do anything. Guess not Obama. I especially liked the quote on the news the other day... "The ego has landed"! Bwahahhaaaaa!!
  • zerton, on 10/05/2009, -3/+5I'd take Chicago and all its oldness and dirtiness over plasticized suburban hell any day. Enjoy your cheaply suv while I enjoy Wrigley Field.
  • Catchpen, on 10/05/2009, -0/+2It's not the president's duty to go campaigning for the Olympics to be held in the US anyways. Because failure makes the news 10x's more than anything good.
  • AgeofMastery, on 10/05/2009, -0/+2Yes Rio did deserve it, but I'm sick of hearing it was because of Chicago's gang problem. The one in Rio is a lot worse.
  • docbob84, on 10/05/2009, -0/+2The second place city was Madrid; while North America has hosted it 9 times, Europe is closer to 30, including the 2012 games in London. The 2008 games were in Asia. If we're going in order of continents that will have had the games most-recently, Rio should have come first, followed by Chicago, Tokyo, and then Madrid. I'm not disappointed by Rio at all, but to say the US has had them too much while ignoring Europe is silly.
  • RevJonathan, on 10/04/2009, -2/+4Well, I think the best thing would have been for him not to go at all. He's pushing Healthcare right now and we deserve a vigorous debate before brazenly overhauling the system. The President needs to be at home for that.

    If he had to go, I'm glad he didn't spend too long, but ultimately he really shouldn't have gone. All he accomplished was embarrassing himself and the country. We were never going to get it because South America has never gotten it. It makes sense and will be a great venue.
  • mrsurfboard, on 10/05/2009, -4/+6Why Chicago didn't get the Olympics summed up, the city is a ***** hole.
  • SkittlesUSA, on 10/05/2009, -0/+2Ha, no worries. I've had my fair share of posts I wish I could delete after reading them over again.

    And honestly, I realize that my analysis is an assertion. What it comes down to: I believe Obama thought that he could sway the IOC at the last second with his suave words. Is that a fact? Not really, just an opinion- however I am inclined to believe it based on the elaborate visit and presentation. He gave his best effort and it didn't work. But it isn't even that- it's that he and the media THOUGHT it would work.
  • DirtPile, on 10/05/2009, -0/+2and bewbs.
  • DirtyDiggberal, on 10/05/2009, -0/+2It's so cold in the D?
  • Catchpen, on 10/05/2009, -0/+2Not even anti-biotics?
  • inactive, on 10/05/2009, -0/+2^he's right, there has been massive bribes from every winning city for the past 30 years. SLC's was epic, but Japan's was uber epic a couple years ago.
  • iamheero1, on 10/05/2009, -1/+3Ok Hedge, here's the thing though: at least you know who Jimmy Carter is. In comparative contrast, you have done nothing and nobody knows who you are.
  • andoru, on 10/05/2009, -0/+1The days of the USA getting every third or fourth Olympics, by default, are over.

    Oh, and I think it's got something to do with the Atlanta games being pretty ordinary, too.
  • quirkopatra, on 10/05/2009, -0/+1Good opportunity to make some progress then, before the Olympics come.

    Rio deserved it. It was South America's turn.
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