Chicago has been eliminated from Olympic balloting in the first round of voting by the International Olympic Committee, a stunningly swift defeat for the U.S. bid personally pitched by President Barack Obama.
Minutes later, Tokyo also was eliminated. Later, Rio de Janeiro was named host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
To some observers, it appeared that Chicago's bid had been fast gathering momentum in the last week. Daley and others began to show their confidence as one piece after another fell into place. From First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey's early commitments to travel with them to Copenhagen, to President Barack Obama's late decision to go, to bad news trickling out about the Rio's bid, indicators looked to be going Chicago's way.
But members of the International Olympic Committee are known for being unpredictable, even impulsive, when they gather to pick a host city.
And in 2016, it won't be Chicago. (continues here at Chicago Tribune)
No comments:
Post a Comment