It was a vote that left many in Chicago disappointed. The President and First Lady joined forces with celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey to campaign for Games to be held in the Windy City in 2016, and after a strong presentation, many people thought that the competition was over.
The Chicago Presentation
During the Chicago presentation, Michelle Obama invoked memories of growing up on Chicago's South Side, watching the Olympics in her father's lap. She talked about how her father suffered from multiple sclerosis, but that it did not stop him from teaching her to play sports. Barack Obama discussed how his adopted city reflected the diversity and values of the Olympic Games. However, the city ended up being eliminated in the first round of voting.
Rio de Janeiro was up against Chicago, Madrid, and Tokyo to host the 2016 Summer Games. It won the right to host 66-32.
The Rio de Janeiro Presentation
Rio's presentation focused on its preparation to host the Olympic Games and addressed previous concerns that a South American city would not have the resources to be able to hold such a large scale event. According to Bloomberg, it proposed $11.1 billion budget to prepare for the Games, reassured voters that there would be no security concerns (a mark against previous bids), and proposed to stage the games in 4 different socio-economic areas throughout the city.
The International Olympic Committee was concerned about the city's plan to use cruise ships as housing due to limited hotel space and the large distances between venues. However, the city plans to install a transportation system of subway, suburban rail, express buses and special driving lanes to connect the 4 Olympic zones.
Many believe that Rio's successful hosting of the Pan-American Games in 2007 and successful bid for Soccer World Cup in 2014 leave little concern for the city's capabilities. According to the NPR, Rio bid unsuccessfully for the Games in 1936, 2004 and 2012.
The Madrid Presentation
Madrid's proposal focused on a heartfelt plea from former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch to hold the Games in his home country before he died. However, if Madrid had won, it would have made it the fourth consecutive European country to host the Games. Furthermore, many people saw the battle to be larger between Rio and Chicago, drawing attention away from the Madrid presentation.
How Hosting the Summer Games Benefits Rio
The 2016 Summer Olympic Games are expected to add $51.1 billion through 2027, and add 120 000 jobs annually until 2016. Furthermore, the games are expected to add 50 000 temporary jobs and bring in at least 1.2 million tourists.
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