Chicago Won't Host 2016 Olympics; IOC Selects Rio de Janeiro Instead

While Chicago will almost certainly suffer from failing to land the 2016 Summer Games (loss of exposure, millions of dollars in revenue, increased tourism, etc.), it was not the only loser today. NBC Chicago's Eamonn Brennan (hey, why's that name sound familiar...) argues that by not picking Chicago, the Olympic Games itself loses. Not politically, or financially, or in any measurable numbers, like television ratings, but from a "strictly sports perspective."

No disrespect to Madrid or Rio de Janiero or even Tokyo, but none of the cities in consideration for the 2016 bid have the diversity of sports and sports fans that Chicago does. This is a city that supports one of the NFL's most popular professional football teams, two pro baseball teams (one of which finishes in the top five of MLB attendance almost every season), an NBA team, the NHL's most popular hockey franchise, a pro soccer team, and a variety of collegiate allegiances that pack bars and restaurants every Saturday.

Imagine all that energy focused, for one month-long period, with a seven-year period proceeding it, toward the Olympic Games. It would be amazing. The level of support would have been unlike anything most Olympic athletes ever got to see. Chicago is a very unique city, and we have no question that when it comes to sports fans and the passion they have for the subjects of their fandoms, Chicago leads the way.

Did anyone in Chicago think to include a deep-dish pizza as part of their presentation? That would probably have been enough to pick up a few more votes at least.

Once Chicago was eliminated after the first round of voting, it became pretty clear that Rio was getting the 2016 Games (British bookmakers had the odds at 3-4 for the Brazilian city late this morning). Now that the celebrating has calmed down a bit … what’s that? The Carnival-like party on Copacabana beach is expected to last well into the night, and easily boast over 100,000 people? Oh. Well, don't mind me over here, I'll just take a quick at how your city was able to pull off the upset.

Many will call this decision a vote against the United States, but really, it was more of a vote for all of South America, which will now host its first Olympics ever.

Rio's bid was boosted by an enthusiastic campaign, support from over 85 percent of citizens of the city, the promise of a Carnival-like party atmosphere and, most importantly, an appeal to the IOC to bring the Olympics to a country that isn't as rich and fully developed as usual Olympics locales like the U.S., England, Spain and Australia. Above all, the IOC is a political entity and going to Brazil was the best politics.

The lure of bringing the first Olympic games to South America and revitalizing Brazil proved to be too attractive to the IOC. Although the circumstances are much different, this vote is reminiscent of when the IOC bucked conventional wisdom and awarded the 2008 Olympics to Beijing. Those Games were thought to usher in a new era of China and served as a platform to reintroduce China to the world.

While Rio's enthusiasm and large number of supporters is a big reason they got the games (many in Chicago were openly against hosting), there was more to the IOC's decision than Rio just being a fun place to party. First, as the Sports Business Journal points out, Brazil, still a devloping country, "represents an intriguing sponsorship opportunity for global corporations." There's also the television aspect, which cannot be ignored, and from that standpoint, Rio was a perfect pick. 

The selection of Rio was the second-best option for the IOC on the TV front. The city is one hour ahead of the East Coast, which will allow broadcasters to air many of the marquee events, like swimming and track and field, in prime time. The IOC is expected to go to market with the U.S. television rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympics within the next year. NBC is paying $2.1 billion for the rights to the 2010 and 2012 Olympics, and U.S. television rights currently account for half of all IOC revenue. Rio offers the IOC a chance to increase those rights in the next quadrennium. 21 Marketing founder Rob Prazmark said, “Everyone is worried about the next negotiations, but for television Rio’s almost as good as Chicago. You’re selling for U.S. television a great time zone.” 

And don't forget: Rio is a really fun place to party.

Rio da Janeiro earned more than double the number of votes as Madrid in the final round of today’s selection for the 2016 host city, according to Olympic Insider Alan Abrahamson.

Madrid won the first round with 28 votes. Rio had 26, Tokyo 22, and Chicago just 18, resulting in its elimination. Rio took command in the second round with 46 votes, while Madrid managed just 29, and Tokyo, 20.

The International Olympic Committee just announced that Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city in Brazil, will be the host for the 2016 Olympics Games.

After today’s shocking loss — it’s the first time since 1980 that the US has failed in consecutive bid attempts, with New York City losing out on the 2012 Summer Olympics — people are asking, “What’s next for Chicago?” Don’t expect that answer to be another run at hosting, because this was probably a “make-or-break” situation, writes Chicago Tribune’s David Greising.

Look at what it took to put this bid together — a mayor who transitioned from reluctant to obsessed, a billionaire with time on his hands, a civic community willing to pony up another $50 million for a bid campaign just a few years after digging deep for the $475 million Millennium Park — and it’s obvious another bid by Chicago would not happen any time soon.

Daley will be off the scene by 2020 and has little incentive to mount a second bid. And Chicago’s civic community is tapped out.

No one will admit it. No one wants to talk this way and risk offending the International Olympic Committee, but Chicago is a one-and-done city. Let Madrid and Beijing come back with multiple bids. Chicago will take the route of Paris and New York, both of which after an affair with an Olympics bid last time acted ashamed they had entertained such silly dreams in the first place.

Chicago’s surprising elimination from consideration for the 2016 Olympic Games is being met with shock in The Windy City, as the crowd that gathered at Daley Plaza to watch the voting “reacted…in silence.”

A collective shadow of sadness and shock fell over the crowd. “Wow,” people repeated. “Unbelievable.” “So sad.”

“This is just one collective hurt” said Henry McGee Jr, 52, and a small business owner who lives near Washington Park. “I’m really stunned. I thought it would be such a boom for the African-American community.”

Under the big top at Washington Park, contortionists and clowns warmed up before the Universoul Circus, which was hosting a viewing party near the proposed Olympic stadium.

A man in a Bears jacket made a slashing motion on his neck.

“It’s over,” he said.

“I’m shocked,” said Natalie McKnight, 29. “I thought with Barack being the chief spokesman, we were going to get it.”

Emotions will quickly change from shock to anger as Chicagoans look for someone to blame. First up: Michael Jordan, who did not participate in the city’s campaign. “Michael Jordan didn’t show up,” said Margaret Johnson of Chicago. “His city asked him for help and he turned his back on us.”

Voting to determine the host city of the 2016 Olympics has concluded, with both Chicago and Tokyo having been eliminated in the initial two rounds. It’s now between Rio de Janeiro and Madrid for the Summer Games. The IOC will make the official announcement live in less than one hour.

Chicago was a “clear favorite” to win this, so what happened? Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand offers his take, saying, “People in the know have been telling me that the IOC’s anti-American sentiment is overwhelming. Baseball vote should have been our 1st clue.” Couple that with the IOC’s desire to have the Olympic Games in South America for the first time ever, and suddenly Rio seems like the obvious choice.

The host city of the 2016 Olympic Games will be either Rio de Janeiro or Madrid as Tokyo failed to make it past the second round of IOC voting.

Chicago will not be the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games after the clear favorite received the fewest number for votes and failed to even make it past the first round of eliminations. The IOC will now decide between the three remaining cities: Rio, Madrid and Tokyo.