Chicago Olympics

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US Olympics Chief Will Step Down
US Olympics Chief Will
Step Down

US Olympics Chief Will Step Down

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

(Newser) - 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...

Chicago's Loss Casts Light on Anti-US Sentiment
Chicago's Loss Casts Light on Anti-US Sentiment
2016 olympics

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...

GOP Revels in US Setbacks
 GOP Revels in US Setbacks 
piling on

GOP Revels in US Setbacks

1-2 punch of job stats, Olympic decision gets a third stage

(Newser) - From worse-than-expected unemployment numbers to Chicago’s foiled Olympic bid, today was a lousy day for America, but Republicans reacted as if Christmas had come early. Soon after the jobs numbers hit, Glenn Thrush of Politico got a slew of GOP press releases. “Rep. Mike Pence literally hit the...

Obamas: Pick Chicago, 'Most American' City
 Obamas: Pick Chicago, 
 'Most American' City 
2016 OLYMPICS

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...

In Blog Post, White House Blasts Fox News

Prez promised to call out detractors, and that he did over Olympics claims

(Newser) - In an unprecedented move, the White House has excoriated one of its most vocal opponents in a blog post ripping Fox News. The post singles out Glenn Beck, saying his "program has shown that nothing is worthy of respect if it can be used as part of a partisan...

Cities That Could Beat Chicago
 Cities That Could Beat Chicago 
OLYMPICS BATTLE

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....

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...

Obama to Pitch Chicago's Olympic Bid in Denmark

First visit by a president to lobby for Olympics

(Newser) - Barack Obama will travel to Copenhagen on Thursday to back Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said today. The president will be joined by Michelle Obama and his education and transportation secretaries. Chicago is bidding against Tokyo, Rio de Janiero, and Madrid, but none of...

Obama Goes En Garde!
 Obama Goes En Garde! 

Obama Goes En Garde!

The president helps boost Chicago's Olympic bid by fencing with light sabers

(Newser) - Health care reform? Racism brouhaha? Barack Obama took a break from it all—and possibly worked out some frustration—on the White House lawn yesterday during a fencing demonstration, Gawker reports. The president and first lady brandished light sabers during an event promoting Chicago’s bid to host the 2016...

Olympics Honcho: Obama Could Make Huge Difference

Pound suggests Chicago mayor try twisting Obama's arm ahead of IOC vote

(Newser) - President Obama's absence will definitely be noticed as the International Olympic Committee meets to pick the host city for the 2016 Olympics, IOC member Dick Pound tells AP. "I don't think there's an IOC member on the planet who wouldn't love to meet your president. He's a transformational figure...

Oprah May Lobby for Chicago Olympics

Winfrey considers joining First Lady in Copenhagen to bid for 2016 games

(Newser) - Oprah Winfrey may join the contingent helping Chicago bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, she tells the Tribune. “There’s some talk about it, and if I feel I can be useful there, then that’s what I will do,” Winfrey says of a possible trip to Copenhagen...

Prez May Skip Trip to Pitch Chicago Olympics

IOC chief says there's no clear favorite ahead of next month's vote on 2016

(Newser) - President Obama is keeping the team behind Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics guessing on whether he'll head to Copenhagen to personally address the International Olympic Committee before members make their choice next month, the Chicago Tribune reports. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says he isn't aware of any...

Chicagoans Cool Off on Olympic Bid

Financial concerns drive lukewarm public support

(Newser) - Local support for Chicago's bid to play host to the 2016 Olympics has fallen sharply, with public opinion evenly split, the Chicago Tribune reports. Just 47% of Chicagoans in a new poll support the mayor’s initiative—a 14-point slide—while 45% oppose it. The main issue is expense: 84%...

Chicago Is Better Off Without 2016 Olympics
Chicago Is Better Off Without 2016 Olympics
OPINION

Chicago Is Better Off Without 2016 Olympics

Games are not worth the cost and hassle

(Newser) - International Olympic Committee representatives are currently visiting Chicago, one of four cities vying to host the 2016 Summer Games. But Chicagoans should hope the honor goes elsewhere, writes Steve Chapman for Reason. The Olympics tend to be a huge cost and hassle with little benefit. Does Chicago, home state of...

Obama No 'Superman' for Chicago's Olympic Bid

But rival Madrid wishes Bush were still here

(Newser) - Barack Obama may be the world's darling for the time being, but that doesn't mean his hometown of Chicago is a shoo-in to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, says Spain's sports minister. "He's not Superman," says Jaime Lissavetzky. "I don't think he will be the decider."...

Chicago Makes Final Four in 2016 Olympic Bid

Madrid, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro also in the mix for Summer Games

(Newser) - Chicago is still in the mix to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, the Sun-Times reports, as the International Olympic Committee today winnowed the field of candidates to four. Vying against the Windy City are Madrid, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro.

For Sale: Stadium Seating, Lightly Used

London Olympic planners eye passing along parts of arena

(Newser) - If Chicago wins its bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games, it might follow more closely in London 2012's footsteps than expected. The cities have begun discussing the possible sale of large parts of London's new stadium to Chicago, the Guardian reports. The deal could result in 55,000 seats...

Chicago Gets Olympic Makeover
Chicago Gets Olympic Makeover

Chicago Gets Olympic Makeover

Critics ponder price as plans for bid move forward

(Newser) - Chicago is serious about hosting the 2016 Olympics, and the city is doing everything possible to land the event, the Washington Post reports. The buzzword is "global": Chicago is entertaining foreign dignities, teaching new languages in its schools, and erecting public sculptures and buildings. But for the Windy City’...

Chicago's Olympic Bid Faltering, US Chairman Says

Effort to land 2016 Games 'third or fourth'

(Newser) - Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics is falling behind its main foreign rivals, the chairman of the US Olympic Committee said today. The Chicago Tribune reports that Peter Ueberroth, who captained Los Angeles' 1984 Games, puts Chicago's effort fourth among cities vying for the 2016 Olympics, behind Rio...

19 Stories