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
By this logic the Games will be awarded to South Africa in the near future.
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