The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Johnny Bravo on October 02, 2009, 01:08:00 PM
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By Vicki Michaelis, USA TODAY
COPENHAGEN — Even the First Couple couldn't keep the USA from finishing dead last in the race for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
FINAL VOTE: Rio wins 2016 Games
In the boldest rejection yet of U.S. attempts to regain premier standing in the Olympic world, the International Olympic Committee on Friday sent Chicago out in the first round of voting for the 2016 host.
Rio de Janeiro defeated Madrid in the final round of voting later on Friday afternoon.
U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Larry Probst had no immediate reaction to Chicago's ouster, saying, "A little later we'll talk about it," before walking away from reporters.
The result blunted any perceived "Obama effect" and left the President vulnerable to critics who over recent days questioned whether he should take time out from his usual presidential duties to pitch for his wife's hometown and the city where he launched his political career.
It also leaves U.S. Olympic officials to again rethink their strategy for regaining favor with their international counterparts. Four years ago, New York went out in the second round of voting for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
To help Chicago land the first U.S.-hosted Summer Olympics since the 1996 Atlanta Games, Michelle Obama arrived in Copenhagen earlier this week to meet one-on-one with IOC members. The President flew in Friday morning, addressing IOC members during Chicago's final presentation and shaking members' hands during a coffee break before departing.
His message was one that plays well in international Olympic circles: That it was time for the USA to make "visitors from all around the world feel welcome."
"One of the legacies I want to see coming out of the Chicago 2016 hosting of the Games is a reminder that America at its best is open to the world," Obama said when IOC member Syed Shahid Ali of Pakistan asked for assurances that foreigners entering the USA for the Olympics would have few problems.
Stricter entry controls instituted after 9/11 have been a source of friction between U.S. Olympic officials and the IOC.
U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Larry Probst tried to address other underlying tensions during Chicago's presentation, saying he wants to "create a legacy in which the USOC serves the Olympic movement as a vital and trusted partner."
In the last year, the USOC has tangled with the IOC over revenue sharing — the USOC receives 20% of IOC sponsorship revenues and 12.75% of broadcast rights fees while the other 204 national Olympic committees share the rest — and over the USOC's plans to launch a U.S. Olympic network. The IOC is concerned such a network will undercut its U.S. broadcast partner.
The revenue-sharing discussions were delayed until 2013, and the USOC put the network plans on hold.
IOC president Jacques Rogge last month predicted those issues would have "no negative effect whatsoever" on Chicago's bid. But the loss could have USOC examining whether they actually did and perhaps trying to craft a new approach.
Not since Los Angeles lost in its bids for the 1976 and 1980 Games has the USA failed to land the Summer Olympics in two consecutive votes. Los Angeles did land the 1984 Games, which because of their unprecedented commercial success, set the IOC on a path to unimagined profitability and considerably enhanced the USA's standing in the Olympic world.
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http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=9129.0
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As a tax payer I say thank God! Yeah, it was a slap, but lets be fair. We FUBARED the Atlanta games due to inadequate transport, accomodations, and, oh yeah a terrorist attack (the first successful one since 1972). Then came Salt Lake, marred by scandal, poor planning and inadequate funding until Mitt turned it around. Would you give the games to us, in Chicago of all places? Plus after the amazing job the Aussies and the Chinese did we would have had to spend beucoup bucks to top them. The security bill alone would be staggering. Frankly, we've got better things to spend our money on. I say good for Brasil.
FQ13
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From the London Times - Online
Snub for Barack Obama as Rio hosts 2016 Olympic Games
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article6859325.ece
The International Olympic Committee handed President Obama a humiliating defeat today after his home town of Chicago made a shock early exit in the race to become host of the 2016 Olympics, with Rio de Janeiro declared the winner.
A massive beachside crowd erupted in Rio as Brazil’s victory was announced - ushering in a new world order in sport - but there was stunned silence among the throng gathered in Chicago’s Daley plaza.
They had expected their city to win after Mr Obama had flown in Air Force One to Copenhagen, where the vote took place, to make a personal, last-minute appeal to the IOC delegates, along with his wife Michelle and the television star Oprah Winfrey.
The disbelief in Chicago after the city was knocked out first with the least number of votes symbolized the shock felt across America at such a crushing defeat and the fact that the IOC had delivered such a public humiliation to Mr. Obama.
A White House spokesman said that Mr. Obama was “disappointed” at the decision, but insisted that he was not sorry to have gone to Copenhagen.
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The disbelief in Chicago after the city was knocked out first with the least number of votes symbolized the shock felt across America
Actually.....not so much. ;)
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Again from the London Times – Online
Obama’s Olympic failure will only add to doubts about his presidency
Full commentary - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6859031.ece
There has been a growing narrative taking hold about Barack Obama’s presidency in recent weeks: that he is loved by many, but feared by none; that he is full of lofty vision, but is actually achieving nothing with his grandiloquence.
Chicago’s dismal showing today, after Mr. Obama’s personal, impassioned last-minute pitch, is a stunning humiliation for this President. It cannot be emphasized enough how this will feed the perception that on the world stage he looks good — but carries no heft.
Concluding paragraph:
This has all added to the perception that Mr. Obama’s soaring rhetoric — which captured the imagination during last year’s election — is simply not enough when it comes to confronting the myriad challenges of the presidency. His spectacular Olympic failure will only add to that.
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BS talks. And talks, and talks.
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How DARE they not award The One's hometown with the Olympic games? Especially after he so graciously granted them an audience with His Eminence. Revenge shall be mine, sayeth Obama.
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One pundit said the games typically go to the most corrupt city. Rio, according to some, wins hands down over Chicago. Tokyo and Madrid we're just in the race for show. A harder choice would have been between Rio and Mexico City.
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Given the choice between Rio and Chicago we know which city the athletes preferred. "City of the broad shoulders, hog butcher to the world" or a beach front town where a piece of dental floss and a hat is considered a two piece swim suit. ;D
FQ13
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Given the choice between Rio and Chicago we know which city the athletes preferred. "City of the broad shoulders, hog butcher to the world" or a beach front town where a piece of dental floss and a hat is considered a two piece swim suit. ;D
FQ13
Why Quaker.......whatevah are you trying to say? ;D
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Better keep the visitors and Olympians close to the venue, Rio police are issued Armored Cars, not regular cars.
Crime is out of this world in Rio, away from the resorts where armed security has to be hired.
Nice dental floss and hat swim suit though
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They had better increase the condom allotment for these Olympics. I heard that the 10K atheletes and staff at the Bejing games used nearly 400,000.....
In Rio, I expect an all topless opening ceremony similar to their Carnival!
;D
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Better keep the visitors and Olympians close to the venue, Rio police are issued Armored Cars, not regular cars.
Crime is out of this world in Rio, away from the resorts where armed security has to be hired.
Nice dental floss and hat swim suit though
Depends upon who's wearing it. ;D
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this is a goodthing... now in 7 years we won't have to hear the int'l commuinty complain about how bad the crime is in chicago.
they will be complaining about rio instead. ::)
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The best thing about several reports and interviews I heard on this today was that is wasn't BHO everyone thought had a lock on the games coming here. It was Oprah that was supposed to be the clincher :o
I wonder if there will be a White House divorce and arranged marriage between O and BHO in the next couple years to assure a lock for 2012 reelection ???
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Whats really scarry... Oprah is worth over a billon... yes that with a b.
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Whats really scarry... Oprah is worth over a billon... yes that with a b.
2.7 billion!
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/10/billionaires-2009-richest-people_Oprah-Winfrey_O0ZT.html
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damn, 5 years ago she was only worht 1 bill...
I'm in the wrong biz... I need to start a useless talk show for women.
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damn, 5 years ago she was only worht 1 bill...
I'm in the wrong biz... I need to start a useless talk show for women.
Why? Are you a stupid, loud mouthed, fat, ugly, black woman?
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I was thinking more along the lines of doctor phill... any one with two brain cells could do what he is doing... then again I don't oprah...
I've said it before and i'll say it again... its not what you know, its who you know.
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Why? Are you a stupid, loud mouthed, fat, ugly, black woman?
For 2.7 billion I can sure as hell play one on TV. ;D
FQ13
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Never figured out the appeal of Oprah.
I was flipping through the channels once and landed on her show for just a few minutes, and what I saw was appalling. A large group of (mostly middle-aged white) women ooohing, aaaahhhhing, clapping, and hanging on her every word and/or action.
I remarked to my wife that Oprah could have walked out on stage, squatted and laid a turd, wrapped it in a pink ribbon and these idiots would have fought to the death over it.
Amazing.
As to the Chicago Olympics, I'd rather go to Rio too.
8)
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The big "O's" sure did bomb on this one. ;)
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The big "O's" sure did bomb on this one. ;)
Not really......Michelle and her mom successfully snagged a nice pair of clogs during their Copenhagen shopping spree.
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Top 10 Reasons Chicago Didn't Get the Olympics
10. Dead people can't vote at IOC meetings
9. Obama distracted by 25 min meeting with Gen. McChrystal
8. Who cares if Obama couldn't talk the IOC into Chicago? He'll be able to talk Iran out of nukes.
7. The impediment is Israel still building settlements.
6. Obviously no president would have been able to acomplish it.
5. We've been quite clear and said all along that we didn't want the Olympics.
4. This isn't about the number of Olympics "lost", it's about the number of Olympics "saved" or "created".
3. Clearly not enough wise Latina judges on the committee
2. Because the IOC is racist.
1. It's George Bush's fault.
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That's one "Top ten List" you didn't get from Letterman ;D
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UPDATE: Cost of Obama's trip to Copenhagen..... Minimum $1 million
AP coverage here:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gKopv4rOyL--qalIdljPlVyBFEIwD9B37CGO0
Taxpayers shelled out probably $1 million or more for the president, his wife and others to fly to Copenhagen and back to woo members of the International Olympic Committee.
A 2006 congressional study pegged the cost of flying Air Force One at $56,518 an hour. The Pentagon recently said it cost $100,219 an hour to fly the huge, reconfigured Boeing 747 without Obama aboard. The Pentagon estimate included more costs for support needs, such as maintenance.
At those rates, the president's 14-hour trip to Copenhagen and back cost about $790,000 to $1.4 million.
However, presidential travel requires additional spending, especially for security personnel and equipment. Also, first lady Michelle Obama and some administration officials traveled to Copenhagen at public expense ahead of the president.
*They only factor the cost of flying 1 plane.... Whenever the Pres flies on Air Force One, they also take along a second identical plane as a backup...... So actual cost for flight alone is $790,000 to $1.4 million times 2