Chicago, Obama, and Oprah Lose in Powerful Olympic Bid
The news hit Chicago hard, according to the Wall Street Journal, and several thousand people who watched on the outdoor television screens at Daley Plaza, Chicago's version of New York's Times Square, were shocked at the news.
It should not be news to soccer fans around the world that there are bigger international stars than Oprah and Barack Obama. Even non-fans have heard of Pele, a historic and legendary figure in the world of what Europeans and others call "football." The soccer star and national hero spoke out for Brazil on several recent occasions and his popularity is undiminished even after decades. Pele is not merely a Latin American phenomenon. In 1999, Pele was named by Time Magazine as one of the world's 100 most important people.
President Obama is highly regarded in some circles as a public speaker but Latin American government leaders have an appealing, often florid style. Brazilian President Luis da Silva delivered the Brazilian message of a willingness to spend far more public money than Chicago which had pledged $4.8 million of private money which might or might not have materialized. Da Silva also mentioned that no Latin American country had hosted an Olympics since its inception. "All people, all continents, all humanity..." was a persuasive phrase to the IOC, apparently favored over Obama's speech inviting the entire world to "walk this path with us..."
Madrid was last to present its case for Olympic hosting and, while Spain's entreaty was regarded as standard fare, according to a Wall Street Journal dispatch, Madrid's brief got a boost from Juan Samaranch, the 89 year old former president of the IOC.
"I am very near the end of my time," Samaranch was quoted in his appeal to the IOC.
"I ask you to consider granting my country the honor and the duty of hosting the Olympic....Game in 2016."
Simplicity can be appealing.
Sources: Wall Street Journal Dispatches to Online Subscribers:
http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2009/10/02/madrid-to-round-out-days-2016-pitches/
http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2009/10/02/chicago-in-shock-at-elimination-from-2016-games/
Published by Anthony Ventre
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12 Comments
Post a CommentI wonder if someone else had gone beside this ultra-liberal contingency, and the President trying to be his own ambassador - if the outcome might have been different.
Obama = EPIC FAIL! And was that first Oprah comment a fat joke? I sure hope so...
Big try for the brass rings too bad it failed.
All I can say is what Tony said. No, the US ain't perfect and has done some dumb sh_t, but for our President to go over there and grovel is sickening! I am glad Rio won, however, as it shows that the big Chicago machine doesn't always get its way!
Why did Doperah go shouldnt she be in Africa mistreating school girls ?
You're right, Tony. I'm too kind. If I last another 3 1/2 years (if the country lasts, too) without my head exploding, it'll be a miracle. Aat least Obama didn't kill anyone (unless spending taxpayer money for nothing can kill) with his decision to be a pitchman, whereas his other decisions (or lack thereof) will and probably have gotten people killed. I'm thinking of Afghanistan, and now these mofos want to wait until November?
You were very kind to the POTUS for not mentioning his shenanigans of his Olympic failure. I applaud your objectivity, sir ;-) Our president who traveled to Copenhagen, on behalf of his Chicago cronies namely & mainly his top WH adviser Valerie Jarett, couldn't help but take a swipe at the US. Frankly, I am sick & tired of this president traveling abroad and beating up America. He & his wife are under the false premise that this was not a great country until they arrived on the national stage. Shame on them & their faux Patriotism.
The Tokyo PM had not intended to go until Obama reversed his earlier decision not to go because the "health care bill was more important." No American president had ever gone before and I don't think future ones will be going either.
The presidents of Spain, Brazil, and Japan all went to Copenhagen to make their pitches as well.
You're right...it has to be seen as very weird around the world, for am American president to come to the IOC pushing Chicago to such a degree. Major blunder, but then again...