So the winner was Rio de Janeiro, over Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago. Seems Pele was more important than Raul and Obama.

I would have given it to Madrid since Brazil is going to have the football WC too, seems a lot, but I will have them closer, maybe i will go.

2012 is in London they didn't want the same event on the same continent for 2 years in a row. Aswell as that, South America has never had an olympics.

There is an extreamly bad crime rate in Rio and Brazil, i thought that could hinder the bid.

Meh, it's about time south America got to host the Olympics. I was rooting for Chicago though- i wanted to go to the Olympics at least once :(

It's good, it's so close! Maybe in 7 years I'll have enough money to pay Rio a visit, I'd love to see the Olympics, and this being so close may be THE chance to go

I'll tell you in 7 years....

Mehhhh

There is no way in hell Rio will get the infrastructure needed until 2016 or even until 2014's WC. It was chosen because Europe couldn't have two olympics and a row and because Lula loves to play like the leftist paladin and the olympic comitee thought "oh my god, poor Rio (a city which ruined one of the most beautiful beach-and-mountain landscapes in the world, btw) never had an olympics, so let's make the games there".

Anyway, rant aside, there is a small chance that things get better for Rio overall in the next years. I really hope so.

that's not really good, they built a lot of stuff for the Pan-American games that will need to be rebuilt and there was also a huge amount of tax evasion (I don't really know the right term in english). they say how the Olympic Games will improve the city (doubtful) and that it will spark interest for olympic sports, but we have MANY examples of successful athletes (exceptions) and teams and nothing changed at all, the succesful athletes are still exceptions (look at Cesar Cielo, who trains in the US for a good part of the year)

you can say I'm a pessimist and I don't see the good side, but I'm sure if you lived here you'd agree with me

I won't even talk about how they say there isn't enough money for a lot of investments, but they are planning to spend more than 30 billions in the games.

China....

I will be watching this on my TV, just to see what kind of flavor Rio will add to their take on the Summer Games... I myself will be fine with it as long as there isn't a military coup (Beijing), terrorist attack (Atlanta), or mass killing (Munich) to mar the festivities... Although one or more of those (or something worse) might just happen, with my luck... But then, IMHO, the IOC seems to be only a couple or three more controversies away from folding up and canceling the Olympic Games forever...

I was of the belief that China knocked down many homes which were "uninhabitable"

Same might be said of these shanty towns...

Im from Rio and can I say:

- Yes, we do have a big crime rate. But since politicians know that the eyes of the world will be watching they will take srious measures. Call in the Army, etc. to help.

- We dont have the infrastructure yet, but we will or get close. And yes, thre will be a lot of backroom deals and a lot of politicians will make a lot of money. However, it will still atract a lot of money to the city so it will still be good.

- We still are one of the prettiest (if not the best one) looking city in the World. So we are fine with that.


Honestly, I dont personally care. I do like the jobs and money it will provide. If we do a good job, people will look more favorably to us and to other 3rd world countries to host these kind of things.

I will not like the crowds, the price hike on everything and the noise, bu twhat can I do?


PS - Zexen, I could invite you to stay with me for you to save some money. But I wont!