is Obama gaming the Olympic bidding?

[gh]

new story on front page says he's just using his political wiles (re Copenhagen visit) to get momentum for the vote.

<<The Chicago bid team knows all too well that the Olympic bids come down to Madrid, Tokyo, Rio and Obama>>

Could be a wild & crazy week.

I'm guessing (and boy, was I wrong last time, riding the Paris horse) that Rio beats Chicago in the finals.

U.S. track surely could use the Chi-town win though.

[Daisy]

Re: is Obama gaming the Olympic bidding?

I think Blair did Coe a massive favour last time around. I hope Obama can find time to do the same for Chicago.

[guru]

The 86% public disapproval rating of the Games bid sure can't help Chicago.

[Daisy]

The 86% public disapproval rating of the Games bid sure can't help Chicago.

Ah, but no one asked Pego or I!

[TrackDaddy]

I think Obama's global popularity remains although his approval ratings at home have declined.

They're going to listen to everything he has to say while wanting to him to say the right things.

[Conor Dary]

The 86% public disapproval rating of the Games bid sure can't help Chicago.

Poll, smoll...People here haven't thought much about one way or the other. Folks are more pissed off about the parking nonsense, so anything Daley was up to would get negative commentary. To say 86 per cent of Chicagoans are against the Olympics is nonsense.

Frankly, everyone here is much more excited that Jay Cutler looks like a real quarterback again.

Personally, I think Obama will show up. And Chicago will get the Olympics.

[kuha]

The 86% public disapproval rating of the Games bid sure can't help Chicago.

Ah, but no one asked Pego or I!

I have it on good authority that--on the next such poll--Pego will find a way to have himself counted at least 850 times. He's THAT crazy about this 5-ring nuttiness.

[lonewolf]

The 2016 Olympic Games will go to Rio.

[Conor Dary]

The 2016 Olympic Games will go to Rio.

Not with the WCup in 2014 there. Besides Obama is very popular overseas.

Rio's time will come later.

[MJR]

The other thing in favor of Chicago is the IOC needing the US TV $ in the rights bid, which will surely require the US hosting the Games during the contract time period. No US network want to deal with the time delay issues anymore, its too much bad press w/ viewers and makes scheduling the games a snafu for sports federations who need to bend to the networks because of the $ issue. Chicago wins for the same reason Atlanta won, the almighty US $ buys the Games again.

[gh]

On the other hand, NBC has already said flat-out it will take the London time schedule as is. For the kind of audience they get/want, "plausibly live" is just fine it seems.

[guru]

The 2016 Olympic Games will go to Rio.

Not with the WCup in 2014 there.

I'm not sure that's the greatest criteria on which to rest an argument since the US had the World Cup in 1994.

As for time zone concerns brought up by MJR, Rio is only an hour ahead of Eastern Daylight Time.

[TrackDaddy]

The 2016 Olympic Games will go to Rio.

Besides Obama is very popular overseas.

.

Bingo.

[Mighty Favog]

The 2016 Olympic Games will go to Rio.

Not with the WCup in 2014 there.

I'm not sure that's the greatest criteria on which to rest an argument since the US had the World Cup in 1994.

As for time zone concerns brought up by MJR, Rio is only an hour ahead of Eastern Daylight Time.

Madrid and Tokyo have essentially no chance whatsoever, unless the IOC voters don't want US TV money. Since live TV coverage began in '68, the summer games had never been outside the western hemisphere more than two times in a row until now (four, counting London). Five would be financial suicide.

Obama's public statement that he may not come to Copenhagen is him being coy. He'll be there, and the "will he or won't he" stuff is just pumping it up.

[tandfman]

Personally, I think Obama will show up. And Chicago will get the Olympics.

I've always thought that if he showed up, Chicago would be tough to beat. Story now on front page here says it's looking more likely that he actually will show up. OTOH, I keep reading stories about cabinet officials going to Copenhagen. If Obama shows up, why does he need his Secretary of Transportation there?