2016 Olympics

With the Olympic bid winner being released in 2 days, it's a bit late, but I was interested in what everyone thought on the subject.


Who would you like to win? Who do you think will win?

Personally, I've been rooting for Tokyo for some months now, but it looks like public support for their bid has being wavering, while suddenly the Chicago bid is suddenly getting waves of support.

I would love chicago since I can probably drive there (it takes 1 or 2 days of car, but it's better than vancouver where I would have had to take the plane) !!!

MaoMaoRevolution wrote:

With the Olympic bid winner being released in 2 days, it's a bit late, but I was interested in what everyone thought on the subject.

Rio is plagued by crime and infrastructure issues, so I would think they are the least likely of the four to be chosen.

Tokyo and Madrid IIRC received the highest scores during the application process and I would think are the natural favorites - of course, this is something American journalists weren't too happy to see (cough Phil Hersh cough). Tokyo's infrastructure and accommodation plans are virtually unmatched - they require the least construction of new venues; Madrid meanwhile is generally regarded as having the cultural edge and best financial plan out of the four. I personally don't care for Chicago as a host - nevermind the fact that there are serious issues with their budget. Really, the only thing Chicago has going for it is its status as a "hub" of American sports and consistent media exposure/hype by having some big names like Obama show up at this point.

As far as polls go, I remember seeing a Sep. 30 poll by Chicago citizens that had public support down to below 50% which is just as low as that of Tokyo's. I would be very surprised if Madrid or Tokyo won't win this (Madrid being the favorite).

I've read before (just can't remember where) that Tokyo's bid seems to be stong. But then that was probably a month or two ago and now the Obamas are lobbying for the games to be held in Chicago.

Personally, I'd like Tokyo to win. Might be easier for me to plan to go there than the other venues.

Madrid, please.

Well, in fact I'd be glad for anything except Chicago. Let's have Olympics with some distinct character, flavour and taste.

Live blog: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport/2009/10/02/olympics-2016-decision-day-live-blog/
Live Coverage: http://www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?id=371923&catid=-2&sid=13050&db_oem_id=23000

roma wrote:

Live blog: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport/2009/10/02/olympics-2016-decision-day-live-blog/
Live Coverage: http://www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?id=371923&catid=-2&sid=13050&db_oem_id=23000

Thanks for the links!
Today is going to be tense waiting for the results

And Rio de Janeiro makes history! Congratulations to them!

Rio it is! Congrats.

Wow...I am pretty suprised!

I have to admit, since Tokyo or Chicago didn't win, it's sort of an upset for me.
It is sort of strange how Rio is placing a huge $14 million budget on the Olympics instead of using that money to help some of their serious economic problems...

But like roma said, it is Olympic history in the making

clovera wrote:

Rio is plagued by crime and infrastructure issues, so I would think they are the least likely of the four to be chosen.

I'm sorry, but that's not true. Please, do not talk about a place when you don't know it. Rio is not the safest city, but if you visit some places in the US, you're gonna see similar problems. There are certain areas of Rio which are dangerous, and surely are not receiving any kind of competition.

Plus, it's proved that holding the olympic games help cities develop a lot. Check Barcelona, for example.