The first round vote for the 2016 Olympic city was much closer than I expected. Why did so many nations vote for Madrid?
I was sure the “Spanish” vote would be split between Rio and Madrid, letting Chicago get to the final round.
… Shows how much I know about the world of the International Olympic Committee who’s members are now voted into 8yr terms.
Seems the old master, former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, had a lot of influence. Born in Barcelona, he brought the 1992 Games to his home city. Samaranch still has clout.
The “winner” was clearly Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. The biggest loser not Chicago, not the Obamas, not Oprah, but the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Someone will write a great book on this vote, I predict.
COPENHAGEN — The map could not have spoken more elegantly. It said the Summer Olympic Games had never been held in South America.
The map was a stroke of genius.
It summarized everything, and without words: The Summer Games had never been held in South America. How could that be? Wasn’t it time to rectify such an obvious injustice? …
Alan Abrahamson – Rio the big winner, USOC the prime loser
click for larger version
By this logic the Games will be awarded to South Africa in the near future.
6 comments ↓
Just to clarify, Brazilians don’t speak Spanish, nor were they colonized by Spain. They speak Portuguese, as they were controlled by Portugal. Therefore, it is unlikely they would have participated in a “Spanish” voting bloc.
You still don’t know what you are talking about. The voters got together and blocked the US so rio could win the vote. It was all fixed.
Right, Jasmine. Good point.
But the Spanish speaking South American and Central American countries I would think would vote for Rio. Did they vote for Madrid in the first and second round?
Yo Rio De Janerio, I'm really happy for you, and I'ma let you finish, but Chicago had one of the best Olympic bids of all time.
I am very glad that Rio ended up winning the vote and getting the games as North America and Europe seem to have received these games more then the share in recent history. I personally was glad to see that the power of Oprah and Obama was not enough to sway the vote in Chicago's direction. Nothing against Chicago, I just hate when politics, power and celebrity try to to interfere with sport (and yes I know it happens all the time, but not quite at the level of Obama and Oprah….neither of which had much interest in this process until very recently). I am happy with how it turned out and I think Rio will be a teriffic host
It won't be easy for Rio. But I agree that the process will be helpful overall for the long term development of Brazil and all of South America.
Chicago was the best bid. But Rio was second best. And close.
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