UPDATE: Rio de Janeiro to Host 2016 Olympics
Rio de Janeiro has been chosen to host the 2016 Olympics, over Madrid, which was the other city left in a final round of voting by Olympics officials.
Chicago was the shock elimination in the first round of voting. Tokyo in the second.
Posted Oct. 2,2009 at 12:52 PM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Chicago, News | Permalink
Another scalp for the Corporate Funded Push for Christian Nationalism .... they told the IOC that they were not wanted in America.
The IOC listened.
Posted by: walter | Oct 2, 2009 11:46:01 AM
What shock?
The Games have never been held in South America. Rio is a very strong contender, and has already built an Olympic stadium. Rio will get the 2016 Summer Games.
Posted by: 24play | Oct 2, 2009 11:50:44 AM
Well that was a waste of time and our tax dollars fueling up Airforce One for a 5 hour trip. How much did this trip cost us?
Posted by: DairyQueen | Oct 2, 2009 11:57:12 AM
Rio would be fabulous!
Posted by: Mike | Oct 2, 2009 12:01:27 PM
You're right, Dairy Queen. The Obamas should never have made the trip without express, written reassurances that Chicago would be chosen.
Posted by: 24play | Oct 2, 2009 12:05:15 PM
The choice really comes down to who has the hottest men and Rio is in! yay wooohooo!
Posted by: CAJIVA | Oct 2, 2009 12:07:58 PM
If President Obama had not made the trip, he would now be getting the blame for the fact that Chicago wasn't chosen.
Posted by: Hank | Oct 2, 2009 12:08:51 PM
I was secretly rooting for Rio.
Besides, the last two times the Olympics came to America, it wasn't exactly smooth sailing.
There was a bomb in Atlanta, as well as all sorts of logistical problems with the new Metro system. Then there was Salt Lake City. The 2002 games wasn't only marred by bribery scandals, but it was also hammered by the Mormons' insistence on enforcing all of Utah's draconian "vice" laws. An Olympics without alcohol?
Not even the Chinese are that prudish. But then, this is 'Murika we're talking about. Land of the free.
Posted by: John | Oct 2, 2009 12:09:35 PM
What no pithy comment from ChitownKev who has to defend everything he's privy to with the "inside track" on Chicago, gay rights in this city, and every effort in Chicago?
Posted by: RB | Oct 2, 2009 12:12:04 PM
Kudos to Obama for trying his best to get it here.
Posted by: john | Oct 2, 2009 12:27:09 PM
I'm going to say I'm glad. The Olympics have never been held in South America, and Rio ought to be a great inaugural venue. The states have had enough Olympic games, and quite frankly, we have enough on our plate right now than dealing with this.
*glares at the President who can make time to fly to Copenhagen but continually comments on how little time he has for LGBT issues*
Posted by: DR | Oct 2, 2009 12:29:05 PM
DR, could you direct me to one comment from the president about "how little time he has for LGBT issues?" I'm not aware of him ever making such a statement.
Posted by: 24play | Oct 2, 2009 12:34:55 PM
@RB
Bitch, please.
Is that pithy enough for you?
Like others, I've been secretly rooting for Rio, since an Olympics has never been held in South America
Posted by: Chitown Kev | Oct 2, 2009 12:51:57 PM
Good. I want it to go to Rio. It's South America's turn to host the games!
Posted by: marco | Oct 2, 2009 12:53:05 PM
well there goes the theory that Oprah has any global power, Kathy G will be upset to find out! Poor Gayle, her ass must be gettin beat about now.
Posted by: ZnSD | Oct 2, 2009 12:57:10 PM
People criticizing the President for taking time to travel to Copenhagen are silly and petty. Air Force One is an Oval Office in the sky; he has everything he needs on that plane. He also was able to meet with General Mcchystal, the commander of the Afghanistan War, since he was in nearby London; he would not have been able to meet face to face had he stayed in Washington.
Posted by: Brian in Texas | Oct 2, 2009 12:58:39 PM
woohoo! Go Rio!
Posted by: marco | Oct 2, 2009 12:59:34 PM
Rio's delegation much nicer looking than Madrid's in that putrid green color, Barry shouldn't have gone and that's that. Lose those advisors, Barry, before you mess up and lose next election. U ain't all that.
Posted by: cd | Oct 2, 2009 1:01:49 PM
While I am a bit disappointed in Obama's putting us on the back burner he was correct in going in person to try for the bid. If he had not all the trolls would be blaming him now.
Face it, be it GOP hate, racism, or panties that are too tight. Obama could cure all diseases and they would still bitch.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Oct 2, 2009 1:10:19 PM
Um, I don't think Pres. Obama went over to Denmark only to lobby for Chicago. I think there were other reasons, probably some kind of covert diplomacy. At least, I HOPE Obama isn't so stupid as to waste five hour, lots of jet fuel and give the impression he's not on top of the various crisis America's facing. C'mon Mr. Pres. Settle down and FOCUS! BTW, good luck with the games in Rio. I hope they do something about the crime before then.
Posted by: mike | Oct 2, 2009 1:14:58 PM
That's all we need: overwhelm Brazil with more human physical beauty than it can already handle.
While the world flocks to Rio, please send 500,000 Brazilian men to Philadelphia....please, to alleviate the over-crowding down there, you know.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Oct 2, 2009 1:15:44 PM
Derrick, as a guy who dated a Brazilian in my more agile days, I hear ya!
Anyhoo, if Chicago didn't win, I'm glad at least Rio got it. Olympics are coming to South America!
Posted by: Hank | Oct 2, 2009 1:22:33 PM
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that people are bitching at Obama over this. That man is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.
People complaining about the relatively insignificant amount of "jet fuel" and "time away from domestic affairs" and whatnot are just petty and desperate.
Posted by: Wes | Oct 2, 2009 1:27:36 PM
Rio deserved to win. Chicago was fighting against the opportunity to stage the first ever South American games.
A Chicago games would've been nice, but I have to admit I'm happy to see Oprah lose.
Posted by: matt | Oct 2, 2009 1:28:07 PM
Doesn't anyone get it? America is now irrelevant. Thanks to George Bush we have begun an irrevocable decline in importance. The future is elsewhere on this planet.
Posted by: Mark | Oct 2, 2009 1:35:18 PM