No surprise: Chi-town denied 2016 Summer Olympics

Chicago is in shock.

Today the International Olympic Committee chose Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. It will be the first time the games are held in South America.

Rio’s bid outshone those from Madrid, Tokyo, and the Windy City. Except for a few Chicagoans who were unsupportive, Chi-town’s proposal was seen, at least domestically, to be one of the favorites. However, that belief went out the window when the IOC eliminated the city from contention on the first vote.

KCRW announced the first results on my way to work (sadly, I drove everyday this week, which I might write about this weekend). Frankly, I was hoping Rio or Tokyo would win the games, but was stunned Chicago’s bid was brushed aside so quickly. However, now that I think about it, I feel Chicago was overmatched.

Chicago’s a great place, but I don’t think it’s an Olympic city. Granted, it’s more of an Olympic city than Atlanta (host of the corporate infested ’96 Games), but in my opinion it’s not of the caliber of London, Barcelona, Munich, or even Los Angeles. Its international appeal is weak; I don’t see it as a world renown tourist destination, and, let’s face it, the Olympics has become all about attracting thousands of tourists and their money. Given the choice to have an all-expenses-paid vacation to either Chicago or Rio, how many people would pick the Second City? The beaches along Lake Michigan or Copacabana beach? The Chicago Water Tower or the statue of Christ the Redeemer? Soldier Field or Maracanã? I’d be surprised if anyone picked Chicago.

Chicago is a hard working city with a great atmosphere and world-class museums, but compared to Rio — and to a lesser extent Tokyo and Madrid — it was an inferior host candidate. It certainly had the fewest municipal credentials. Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain; Tokyo is the largest city in the world, the seat of Japanese government and the Japanese Imperial Family, and has an intricate and efficient mass transit system; Rio is the second largest city in Brazil, the capital of its state, known for incredible geographic and ethnic diversity, and will be two years removed from hosting pivotal games in the 2014 World Cup. Chicago? With a population less than 3 million (third largest in the US), it’s not even the capital of Illinois. It’s significance in the United States it mostly tied to the massive cattle stockyards that no longer exist. Also not helping Chicago was the fact that six North American cities (Vancouver will make seven this winter) have hosted Olympics since 1976.

The Windy City, I will say, is a premier sports city. But that wasn’t enough to convince the IOC. It wouldn’t have been enough to convince me, either.