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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 OLYMPICS BATTLE 
13

Cities That Could Beat Chicago

Rio, Madrid, or Tokyo could leave Obamas empty-handed this week

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(Newser) – Barack and Michelle Obama arrive in Denmark tomorrow, hoping to win the 2016 Olympics for their hometown. The Windy City has an impressive bid, proposing events in the city's parks and a lakefront Olympic Village. But three other cities are lobbying hard, and any could get the Games come Friday.

  • Madrid: Spain has valuable experience from the Barcelona Games, and events would take place in Real Madrid's famous soccer stadium. But after London 2012, another European city is a tough sell. And Madrid's 100-degree summers don't help.

  • Rio de Janeiro: One of the world's most beautiful cities, it's one of the most dangerous, too. South America has never hosted the Olympics, and booming Brazil, holding the 2014 World Cup, is the obvious choice. President Lula has wide support, and he'll get Spain's backing if Madrid falls.
  • Tokyo: Its "recession-proof Games" would reuse many of the sites of the 1964 Olympics, and it would turn landfills into waterfront parks. But the IOC is dismayed by lukewarm support among the Japanese.

Brazilian soccer legend Pele during a press conference for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 bid team in Copenhagen, Wednesday Sept. 30, 2009.
Brazilian soccer legend Pele during a press conference for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 bid team in Copenhagen, Wednesday Sept. 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/Fabian Bimmer)
Girls perform during a team dance festival for Tokyo's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Metropolitan Government's building in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009.
Girls perform during a team dance festival for Tokyo's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Metropolitan Government's building in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Tokyo is running for the host city for the 2016 Olympics with Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro. and the host city will be picked by the IOC in Copenhagen on Oct. 2.
Tokyo is running for the host city for the 2016 Olympics with Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro. and the host city will be picked by the IOC in Copenhagen on Oct. 2.   (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Thousands gather to support Madrid's 2016 Olympic bid at the Cibeles fountain in the Spanish Capital, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009.
Thousands gather to support Madrid's 2016 Olympic bid at the Cibeles fountain in the Spanish Capital, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/Emilio Naranjo, Madrid's townhall,ho)
A computer illustration for Rio 2016, showing the Maracana soccer venue and the Maracanazinho volleyball venue. Rio de Janeiro is hoping to bring the Olympics to South America for the first time.
A computer illustration for Rio 2016, showing the Maracana soccer venue and the Maracanazinho volleyball venue. Rio de Janeiro is hoping to bring the Olympics to South America for the first time.   (AP Photo/Comite Rio 2016)
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13 comments
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Aelius28
Sep 30, 09 7:53 AM CDT
Maybe I'm missing something, but why is this news? More importantly, why is our President traveling halfway across the world to try and get some fucking sports game in his old home town? What a joke. Reply
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
Timinator2K
Sep 30, 09 8:01 AM CDT
Hmmmm, let's take a very wild guess. Chicago gets the Olympics...which would trigger the building of a massive money pipeline from the US Treasury directly into Chicago's City Hall...where an incredibly long line of local politicos and Obama large-dollar-contributors will line up with their bottomless buckets to be filled to over-flowing with their reward. Clear enough for ya? A BLIND MAN COULD SEE THIS COMING.
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-3
IN RESPONSE:
piyrwq
Sep 30, 09 8:09 AM CDT
Instead he should travel back to Chicago and clear some brush?
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
Aelius28
Sep 30, 09 8:10 AM CDT
...What? No, he should go back to the White House or something. He has a country to run. What are you on?
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+1
sully4411
Sep 30, 09 8:09 AM CDT
..or maybe, the olympics are the most impressive display of athleticism and sport possible, and it is an honor and priveledge to host the event Reply
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+2

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