2016 Olympic Games bids

Ive never heard of Baku, Azerbajan... lol, their bid must be nothing more than a desperate attempt to be recognised!

I think the IOC will just favour 'developed' candidates, being Chicago & Tokyo to host. But I would put the money on Chicago too, as theyve never hosted. However, I dont like the idea that the US would be hosting the Olympics again after 20 years, Last being Atlanta in 96, and before that Los Angeles in 84. Not fair to the rest of the world.

Preferably, I'd love to see it in Prague or Rio de Janerio. They both are locations of a sub-developed standard, which would immensely benefit from a staging of the Olympics with improved infrastructure & other tidbits. Theyre both rich cultural locations, which will appease the tourism market also.

Madrid could be a possibility, but again, Spain only just hosted 24 years ago in Barcelona 92. Doha... Obviously a lot of corporate investment will go into the place if they hosted the Olympics (being a Dubaiesque place of sorts) but I just dont think the ME is ready to handle such an event.

In early June the IOC will narrow it down to 4 or 5 short listed cities.

My bets are on Doha and Baku getting the chop.. maybe Prague

Chicago could host well -- but there is still backlash within the IOC of the Olympics going back to the US so soon after 1996 and 2002. Chicago has a big arguement of an Olympics being in North American timezone earning $$$ -- fact is Rio 2016 would do the same and allow a first South American Olympics.

Tokyo would do a good job, but to soon after Beijing 2008 for Asia. And remember Madrid and Prague are affectively out because of London hosting 2012 and Sochi hosting 2014.

My bets ( and hopes ) are on Rio 2016 -- bring the Olympics to Rio, Brazil, and South America for the FIRST TIME --- (and the first Olympics in the Southern Hemisphere held outside Australia)

It's quite simply between Rio de Janeiro, Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid.

I think an Australian City will get it, though if we are to get the World Cup then we wont get these games, I think Doha will have it and that will shit on Dubai's parade as everyone will want to go to or via Doha. If Beijing can have them then a Middle Eastern country like Doha is sure to be the best option.

melbstud said:

I think an Australian City will get it, though if we are to get the World Cup then we wont get these games, I think Doha will have it and that will shit on Dubai's parade as everyone will want to go to or via Doha. If Beijing can have them then a Middle Eastern country like Doha is sure to be the best option.

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- Australia is not bidding, and even if we were, we would stand little chance in the wake of Sydney 2000.

- Doha doesn't stand a chance against the likes of Chicago, Tokyo, and Rio.

Agent 096 said:

I doubt many people had heard of Sochi, before they won the rights to the 2014 Winter Games, and with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan being one of the largest oil companies in the world, Azerbaijan will probably have a lot more clout than people are giving them credit for.

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Baku is not far from Sochi. That's a reason they won't get it.

Sochi is in Russia - a STRONG Winter Olympic nation.

Baku is in Azerbaijan - a country that has only ever scored a handful of medals in only Wrestling and Gymnastics. And they are going for the Summer Olympics - a far cry from Sochi's 2014 Winter Olympics.

It's nice in theory - but it's not going to happen.

melbstud said:

I think you guys dont give Doha enough credit they had the asian games and did a marvellous job. They are more rich that the UAE, however, Abu Dhabi is one of the richest cities in the world which is the capital of the UAE. I think Doha.

Tokyo- yawn
Chicago- more of a yawn.

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They have no active Olympic heritage and their Olympic team draws ire from Lausanne because of their purchasing/poaching of athletes. Accomadation and legacy is another huge problem. Doha's bid stinks hugely of self-benefit and nothing more (then again all hosts are in it for themselves, Doha just moreso).

It won't be Doha. Istanbul or Kuala Lumpur will be the first Islamic cities to host the Olympic Games.

I think Chicago just might get it, and if not Rio. If Obama becomes the next US president, the Chicago bid should get a boost as he is from Chicago. Chicago is also one of the great cities of the world that hasn't hosted the olympics. But then again doesnt the head of the IOC want to see the olympic games in either africa or South America some time soon

gho said:

I think Chicago just might get it, and if not Rio. If Obama becomes the next US president, the Chicago bid should get a boost as he is from Chicago. Chicago is also one of the great cities of the world that hasn't hosted the olympics. But then again doesnt the head of the IOC want to see the olympic games in either africa or South America some time soon

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I don't doubt Chicago would make a great host, and Obama would help the bid-- but ultimately they are domestic US issues- and there is a big wide world out and the IOC is changing under Rogge-- new frontiers. The IOC has made it clear on numerious occasions that Africa and South America should host by 2028-32. 2016 is strategically perfect for a South American debut. I think it will be Rio. (even though I wish it was BA, Argentina). Atlanta 1996 (and Salt Lake 2002 to a lesser extent) was a huge blow to the IOC's creadiability and they wont be eager to go back there. I would not be suprised if the US does not host again into the 2030's. If South America wins 2016, then there will be no US 2020 due to continental rotation, and if they loose 2024 then they may land another Winter Olympics due to a sympathy/money making vote, thus pushing back even futher hosting the Summer Olympics.

The 2016 Olympic race reminds me of 2008.
Chicago 2016 is Toronto 2008. The technically superior bid, but this is held back by the cities being in nations that have had their Olympic chances and swept aside by the sentimental vote, which pushed Beijing 2008 bid over the line for 2008 and will do the same for Rio 2016.

Alphaville said:

I woulden't be so sure about that-- but Atlanta 1996 did have the overall vibe of a glorified Super Bowl.

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Obviously there are minorities in any country who are very interested in, for example, professional table tennis or badminton. But the majority of Americans share BrizzyChris's sentiment and don't care enough about the sports to watch if it's inconvenient. Rio is only 1 hour off EST, so that might be in it's favor.

Mr. Welsh said:

Rio is only 1 hour off EST, so that might be in it's favor.

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Absolutely. EVERY US bid always uses one of their Pro's as "Hosting in America will generate profit in ratings". Totally stupid. Even Chicago has the nerve to use the excuse, even though Rio *IS* in their timezone (even though it's irrelevent).

Time zone's and major events are such a feeble arguement. Even Ecclestone had the nerve to say the Australian Grand Prix was in a poor time zone and completely ignore the fact we are aligned with Asia-- potentially the biggest market in earth.