President Obama, Michelle, and Oprah fail to bring Olympics to Chicago
October 3, 2009
Despite intensive lobbying and campaigning, backed by none other than the president of the United States and the queen of daytime television, Oprah Winfrey, Chicago came last of the candidate cities to host the 2016 summer Olympics
Rio the winner
Rio de Janeiro was the big winner. Brazil will thereby be the first South American country to arrange the Olympic games.
Ahead of the vote by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Chicago was tipped as the narrow favorite, followed by Rio, Tokyo, and Madrid.
The Spanish capital was seen as the least likely to win owing to the fact that London, a European city, will host the 2012 games.
Chicago big loser
No one expected or predicted that Chicago would come last, especially not after Obama's expensive and highly-publicized visit to Copenhagen to woo IOC members.
Obama's critics happy
Obama's critics in the United States are overjoyed at the president's failure to bring the Olympics to his home city. They further claim that the United States has been snubbed and humiliated.
President Obama has wasted tax payer's money on a risky and reckless venture, they say. His was the first time an American president has attempted to influence voting to select an Olympic city.
Egg on faces
The assembled world Press in Copenhagen and the entire Chicago campaign have egg not only over their faces, but down their shirt fronts and all over their shoes. How could the city tipped as favorite fall at the first hurdle?
Chicago's campaign must have been far from adequate in the eyes of IOC delegates. And perhaps Obama's high-profile entrance harmed rather than helped Chicago's chances.
Enormous power
Perhaps IOC members saw the Obamas' and Oprah's antics in Copenhagen as yet another attempt by the United States to use its enormous power to elbow other nations out of the way.
President Obama was not subdued after the vote. He says he does not regret his trip, even though he spent fewer than four hours in Denmark at a cost of several million dollars.
Brazil's president was overjoyed at Rio's success, calling it a victory for entire South America.
American commentators were less impressed. Tony Harris of CNN said: "Be honest, we are stunned that Chicago didn't make it to the final round of voting."
Axelrod's sour grapes
And Obama's righthand man in the White House, David Axelrod, had a clear case of sour grapes, accusing the Madrid camapaign of nepotism and back-scratching.
by Giles Devos in Copenhagen