Looks like Chicago is out of the running for the 2016 Olympics. I am bummed but not surprised. I had decided that I was going to go and watch if it wsa in Chicago. Has anyone attended a swim session at the Olympics (if you swam in one, that more than counts, but I am wondering about spectating!)?
What about New York? If London can win a bid, I don't know why NY couldn't. I do have to agree Chicago seemed to come up short compared to the other three this time in terms of overall appeal.
I thought this poll from ESPN was interesting:
sports.espn.go.com/.../flashPollResultsState
Yeah, NY should be an option. Hard to see Chicago having a lot more crime than Rio though ...
:bow::oldman: maybe job security later on with a named memorial. Bet his wife made him do it LOL:D
Hell, Alaska would have been more interesting to the IOC.
Eric,
I beg to differ with you on your characterization of New Yorkers. True story. My wife was in Manhatten standing on the curb getting ready to cross the street. She stepped off the curb and from her left, down the street, came a guy on a bike yelling at the top of his lungs, "Get the f*^# outta the way!" My wife jumped back up onto the curb, and as the biker passed he said in a very sweet and demur voice, "thank you".
Now if that's not friendly, I don't know what is! :D
We would've had that even better with Chicago, but at least Rio is loads preferable to a Tokyo or Madrid time zone. Should give a nice little edge to our athletes, to not have to adjust as much as when they went to Beijing or when they'll go to London.
Rio '16... seven years away. I wonder if I can attend...
I think the USOC needs to rethink the US citis they are proposing.
Madrid, Rio, Tokyo, Chicago --- If you take a poll of 1000 people from all around the world asking them to rank these places in terms where they would like to visit, I am certain Chicago would come in last every time. It's just not an international city.
I think Atlanta got very lucky in 1996, because other bidders did not go after the games thinking that Athens was a lock.
I think Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles are the only US possibilities, but only if you also put together a blow out proposal.
I got the pleasure of being in Daley Plaza for the announcement, thanks to my company for giving me the half day to walk a couple of blocks to experience the craziness of the party. Ive never heard such a loud gasp from a group of people and newscasters struggle to even speak. They were not ready to hear Chicago get eliminated in the first round of voting. It would've been a great experience to have the Olympics in your hometown, but I doubt Chicago could handle it all. I am happy for Rio, I feel that they deserve it. The US has had Atlanta and Salt Lake, we def need to let the other nations/cities host. I wish Rio the best of luck.
