Which city do you think will get the 2016 Olympics?

[Abril]

It''s going to be decided in the next few days.

Finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Chicago
Madrid
Rio de Janeiro
Tokyo

If Rio is chosen, that would mark the first time the Olympics are in South America. I wonder if they would change the month of the Summer Olympics to coincide with summer south of the equator. Even if they kept it in August, I hear it''s still pretty warm, even though it''s technically winter in Rio.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 9/29/2009 1:25:02 PM
Author:Abril
It's going to be decided in the next few days.

Finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Chicago
Madrid
Rio de Janeiro
Tokyo

If Rio is chosen, that would mark the first time the Olympics are in South America. I wonder if they would change the month of the Summer Olympics to coincide with summer south of the equator. Even if they kept it in August, I hear it's still pretty warm, even though it's technically winter in Rio.

Hm, I think Rio would be cool, but not sure how well it would be pulled off. All three other countries have had the olympics in the last couple of decades, I think. (Nagano, Barcelona, Atlanta and LA).

ETA, I know Nagano was winter, but I am including winter and summer in my musings.

 

[JSM]

I don''t know who will get it, but I''m REALLY hoping for Chicago. It would likely save my dad''s job.

 

[Haven]

Chicago, baby!

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

It would be great if Rio got it, BUT that''s the only city I''m not rooting for! lol. Nothing personal against it, but I''ve lived in the other three, so I want one of those to get it! Though it''s a tie between Madrid and Chicago for me - one of my favorite cities ever v. city I live in now.

 

[Laila619]

Probably Chicago. Just a hunch. I also think because the Pres is from Chicago that that will have a roll in it.

 

[MissChi]

I'm hoping for Chi!

 

[misskitty]

I'm actually against Chicago. I'm nervous about what the aftermath of the games would do to the city, and I honestly don't think the temporary economic boom is worth it.

 

[pennquaker09]

I really want it to be Chicago. It''s one of my favorite cities in the US.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 9/29/2009 11:49:48 PM
Author: misskitty
I''m actually against Chicago. I''m nervous about what the aftermath of the games would do to the city, and I honestly don''t think the temporary economic boom is worth it.

I kind of agree with you. And what the city has to go through to get there is such a pain. The nice part is they get all sorts of "updates" to the city.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Well, the television/broadcasting interests *hate* when the games do not line up with live broadcast in the US because of the vast sums of money to be made from advertising space. To a certain extent, high-demand events can be scheduled with this in mind (for instance, Michael Phelps in Beijing), but there''s also a great deal of lobbying by the telecommunications giants as well.

It''s hard to say without seeing the details of the individual bids, but I''d say that Chicago and Madrid seem very promising. Tokyo suffers from the time zone issues of Sydney (and the IOC was *very* disappointed in global viewership in 2000), and I can''t help but wonder if the current economic mood makes them worry that Rio might suffer some of the problems that the World Cup has run into by being held in South Africa. I think those who have mentioned the efforts of the Obamas might be on to something as well!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 9/30/2009 12:36:28 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis
Well, the television/broadcasting interests *hate* when the games do not line up with live broadcast in the US because of the vast sums of money to be made from advertising space. To a certain extent, high-demand events can be scheduled with this in mind (for instance, Michael Phelps in Beijing), but there''s also a great deal of lobbying by the telecommunications giants as well.

It''s hard to say without seeing the details of the individual bids, but I''d say that Chicago and Madrid seem very promising. Tokyo suffers from the time zone issues of Sydney (and the IOC was *very* disappointed in global viewership in 2000), and I can''t help but wonder if the current economic mood makes them worry that Rio might suffer some of the problems that the World Cup has run into by being held in South Africa. I think those who have mentioned the efforts of the Obamas might be on to something as well!

You know, I wish the US would just broadcast the events live (unless I am missing something, I don''t believe they do the premier events live if the time zones don''t line up.) Other countries broadcast live - so if you want to see it, you can catch it when it happens.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Date: 9/30/2009 12:41:14 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 9/30/2009 12:36:28 PM

Author: fleur-de-lis

Well, the television/broadcasting interests *hate* when the games do not line up with live broadcast in the US because of the vast sums of money to be made from advertising space. To a certain extent, high-demand events can be scheduled with this in mind (for instance, Michael Phelps in Beijing), but there's also a great deal of lobbying by the telecommunications giants as well.


It's hard to say without seeing the details of the individual bids, but I'd say that Chicago and Madrid seem very promising. Tokyo suffers from the time zone issues of Sydney (and the IOC was *very* disappointed in global viewership in 2000), and I can't help but wonder if the current economic mood makes them worry that Rio might suffer some of the problems that the World Cup has run into by being held in South Africa. I think those who have mentioned the efforts of the Obamas might be on to something as well!

You know, I wish the US would just broadcast the events live (unless I am missing something, I don't believe they do the premier events live if the time zones don't line up.) Other countries broadcast live - so if you want to see it, you can catch it when it happens.

Yes, I remember the same when I lived abroad. I'd guess there are enough differing factors to have an impact: due to smaller population groups being covered, advertising rates for prime-time weren't as big of a business there as in the US; european societies' are not structured with such a high percentage of the population working in cubicles until prime time (so more people can be around TVs during daylight hours); and the broadcasters there never had enough pull to have much say in structuring the options available in comparison to, say, NBC/Universal/General Electric. (Paying China just shy of a *BILLION* dollars for broadcasting rights of the Beijing Games in the US gives a buyer quite some pull, eh? Just as a point of contrast, Australia's Seven Network purchased the Aussie rights to four Olympic Games-- '04 & '08 Summer games and '02 & '06 Winter games-- for $140 million... total for all four.) That said, I totally agree with your point, and I too wish they had live broadcasts with the same quality production standards during daytime!

In case the absence of Olympics on this day gives you a little extra time to kill reading interesting things on the internet, this article from the NYT is a pretty fascinating read:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/sports/olympics/25nbc.html?_r=1

 

[AprilBaby]

I live in suburban Chicago and I hope we do NOT get the Olympics.

 

[purrfectpear]

I lived in LA during the Olympics and it didn''t impact me at all. Unless you drive or work near the facilities, you won''t even know it''s going on (at least in a city the size of LA). There was no "aftermath".

 

[Abril]

Lots of PS votes for Chicago so far... The IOC will announce the winning city this Friday at around 1 pm, Eastern.

I''m kind of rooting for Chicago, but you never know.

 

[Blair138]

Date: 9/30/2009 2:17:27 PM
Author: purrfectpear
I lived in LA during the Olympics and it didn''t impact me at all. Unless you drive or work near the facilities, you won''t even know it''s going on (at least in a city the size of LA). There was no ''aftermath''.

This is the reason why I hope Chicago gets it. I live in the burbs, I really won''t be affected-selfish I know, but I will likely never travel anywhere to see the games, but if they are in my own backyard, you bet I''ll be there!

 

[CDNinNYC]

Woohoo! Rio de Janeiro won the bid.

 

[TravelingGal]

Yay RIO!

 

[TravelingGal]

From msnbc:

"Rio had played heavily on the fact that South America has never previously hosted the games, while Europe, Asia and North America have done so repeatedly. Now, only Africa and Antarctica remain as continents that have not been awarded an Olympics."

Well, I''m thinking Antartica will never get one.

Africa - well, we''ll see how they do with the World Cup first....

 

[princesss]

YAY RIO!

 

[Abril]

Good for Rio! Any Brazilian PSers here?

 

[Londongirl1]

Date: 10/2/2009 4:49:13 PM
Author: Abril
Good for Rio! Any Brazilian PSers here?

Your wish is granted - It''s RIO!!!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Date: 10/2/2009 4:49:13 PM
Author: Abril
Good for Rio! Any Brazilian PSers here?

Here is one!

 

[CDNinNYC]

Date: 10/4/2009 7:02:56 PM
Author: Lady_Disdain

Date: 10/2/2009 4:49:13 PM

Author: Abril

Good for Rio! Any Brazilian PSers here?

Here is one!

Que parte do Brasil você é?

 

[CDNinNYC]

EDIT: double post

 

[Deia]

Date: 10/4/2009 7:02:56 PM
Author: Lady_Disdain

Date: 10/2/2009 4:49:13 PM

Author: Abril

Good for Rio! Any Brazilian PSers here?

Here is one!

Here''s another! Woohoo! I was so happy almost cried when I heard Rio won lol, it''s such a great opportunity for my city/country