Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

NEWS ABOUT: 2016 Olympics

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>

Switch to grid view »

Brazil Raids Rio's Largest Slum

Rocinha slum called vital for World Cup, Olympic security

(Newser) - Upwards of 2,000 members of the Brazilian police and military, backed by armored vehicles and helicopters, swept through Rio's biggest slum before dawn today, in the biggest anti-gang action since last November , reports the AP . But unlike the previous raid, which was precipitated by a rash of gang... More »

NBC Wins Olympics Until 2020

Broadcaster pays $4.38B for rights to 4 Olympics

(Newser) - NBC Universal has outbid rivals to win the US rights to broadcast the four Olympics after London 2012. The Comcast company's $4.38 billion bid included $2 billion to broadcast the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and the 2016 summer Games in Rio de Janiero. Rival bidder Fox... More »

Rio Cops Storm Gang Haven

Crackdown on longtime crime center

(Newser) - Hundreds of Brazilian police stormed a Rio slum today in a war-zone scene aimed at reclaiming longtime gang turf ahead of the city's 2016 Olmpiad, reports the AP. Backed by helicopters and armored vehicles, the police said they quickly overran several hundred gang members and seized huge stashes of guns... More »

Rio Cops Try to Reclaim Gang-Ruled Slums

City begins long cleanup ahead of 2016 Olympics

(Newser) - Now that Brazil has won its bid for the 2016 Olympics, the housecleaning has begun. Police mounted intense raids on shantytowns that have been co-opted as operating bases by gangs. Ten suspected criminals were killed in gunfights with police, the AP reports. The overall plan is to push the gangs... More »

Bad Weather Blamed for Brazil Blackout

60M affected after wind, rain knock out transmission lines

(AP) - Heavy rain and strong wind last night caused blackouts that left nearly a third of Brazilians—60 million people—in the dark, officials said today as they scrambled to restore confidence in the country's infrastructure before soccer's 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. The weather made transformers on a... More »

Gangs Down Police Chopper as Rio Burns

But Brazil says it's working on security issues for 2016 Games

(AP) - Brazilian officials are insisting security won't be a problem for its just-won 2016 Olympics despite drug-gang violence that plunged Rio de Janeiro into a day of bloody chaos that saw gangs shoot down a police helicopter, killing two cops and injuring four. The hourslong turf war between rival gangs in... More »

IOC OKs Golf, Rugby for Rio Games

Golfers, ruggers seek Olympic gold in 2016 for first time in 100 years or more

(Newser) - Medals for golf and rugby will be awarded at the 2016 Olympics for the first time in a century or more. The IOC voted today to reinstate the sports for the Rio de Janeiro games and provisionally accepted them for the 2020 Olympiad. Golf has not been played at the... More »

US Olympics Chief Will Step Down

Streeter's decision follows Chicago bid, no-confidence vote

(AP) - With the sting of Chicago's loss still fresh, the acting chief of the US Olympic Committee has decided to step down before being pushed out. Stephanie Streeter said today she will not seek the job on a permanent basis and will leave by March. The decision comes five days after... More »

Congrats, Rio; Now Get to Work

Brazil has some serious cleaning to get ready for 2016 Olympics

(Newser) - Rio de Janeiro waltzed into Copenhagen on Friday, elbowed a couple of superpowers aside, whispered in the IOC's ear, and made off with the 2016 Olympics. But now in the cold light of day, Brazil has some serious roll-up-the-sleeves work to do. Its onetime oceanside gem now hangs on a... More »

Olympics Defeat: How Much Does It Hurt Obama?

(Newser) - It's a big disappointment for Chicago, but how big a hit was yesterday's Olympic Committee put-down of the US's 2016 bid for the president, who stuck his neck out to go to bat for it? Of course Rush Limbaugh said it was huge, the "worst day" of Obama's presidency,... More »

Chicago's Loss Casts Light on Anti-US Sentiment

IOC shows us the world still likes to thumb its nose at American power

(Newser) - The first-round knockout of Chicago’s Olympic bid speaks to an unpleasant fact, writes Mike Lopresti: “A lot of people out there don't like us. They don't care if President Obama is eloquent and the first lady is charming.” If it had come down to just Chicago and... More »

Olympic Snub Has Silver Lining for Chicago

Good ideas and sober assessments made during bid should go forward

(Newser) - Chicago failed in its bid to land the Olympics, but look on the bright side, the Tribune urges: If the city builds on the bright ideas and redevelopment plans designed to sway the IOC, it can have all the benefits with none of the hassle. “Bidding for an Olympiad... More »

Rio to Host 2016 Olympics

(AP) - The 2016 Olympics are going to Rio de Janeiro, putting the games in South America for the first time. Rio beat surprise finalist Madrid in the last round of voting today in Copenhagen. Chicago was knocked out in the first round, Tokyo in the second. Rio had played heavily on... More »

Chicago Loses Olympic Bid

(Newser) - So much for the clout of the Obamas and Oprah. Chicago lost its bid to host the 2016 Olympics after being eliminated in today's first round of voting in Copenhagen. Despite personal appeals by the president and first lady, the city got the fewest votes in the International Olympic Committee... More »

Obamas: Pick Chicago, 'Most American' City

President, first lady stump for their hometown ahead of Olympic vote

(Newser) - Barack and Michelle Obama made an impassioned call today to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago, which the president called the "most American of American cities." In his pitch to the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen, the president told of how he became "a proud Chicagoan" after... More »

Can Rio Beat Chicago? Brazil Prez Says 'Yes, We Can'

Lula borrows from Obama before Olympic vote tomorrow

(Newser) - The Brazilian president, in Copenhagen after some serious politicking to win the 2016 Olympics for Rio de Janeiro, used a certain Chicagoan's slogan to promote his bid today. "Yes we can!" Lula told reporters today, dismissing concerns that the developing nation can fund the Games. "For... More »

Michelle, Oprah Hit Copenhagen

(Newser) - Copenhagen's star power got a big boost today with the arrival of Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, in town to push Chicago's bid for the Games. Oprah was greeted with "bad weather for hair" and a throng of fans crying "Oprah! Oprah!" as she walked the streets,... More »

Cities That Could Beat Chicago

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

(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.... More »

Steele: Let Michelle Make Olympics Pitch

RNC chair blasts Obama's trip as 'unnecessary'

(Newser) - President Obama shouldn’t bother going to Denmark to argue for Chicago's Olympic bid, Michael Steele says; that’s what Michelle’s for. “The first lady would have been and should have been the lead there,” the RNC chair said today. “Let her go and sell Chicago.... More »

Obama's Olympic Lobbying Trip Is Useless Gamble

Too many actually pressing issues, and what if he goes and Chicago is snubbed?

(Newser) - Aside from showing love for his adopted hometown, President Obama’s decision to go to Copenhagen to lobby for Chicago as host of the 2016 Summer Olympics is drawing a chorus of boos from the punditocracy as a gamble that could be embarrassing at best—what if, say, Brazil gets... More »

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne