Posted on 09/29/2009 2:55:43 PM PDT by Shermy
COPENHAGEN – Brazilian soccer great Pele isn't worried President Barack Obama's star power could help Chicago win the bid for the 2016 Olympics at the expense of Rio de Janeiro.
Rio is seen as a slight favorite ahead of Friday's vote by the International Olympic Committee, but Obama's decision to fly into Copenhagen for the final presentation could swing the ballot in Chicago's favor. Madrid and Tokyo are the other candidates.
However, Pele said Tuesday that Rio "doesn't compete with Obama. We are competing against Madrid, against Tokyo, against Chicago."
The 68-year-old Pele pointed out that Rio is also bringing some big names.
"If they have Obama, we have Lula, we have Pele," he said, referring to Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva....
Rio also has a charismatic bid team, and is arguing that it is South American's turn to host its first Olympics.
"We have some reason to believe in Rio de Janeiro, not only Rio but South America, because we have never had the Olympics," Pele said after watching Danish teenagers playing soccer in two Copenhagen neighborhoods.
Rio gained IOC praise for having strong public support, a stable economy and experience from hosting the Pan American Games in 2007. Rio also is hoping to gain points for its fun-loving people and natural beauty, with mountains covered with thick green jungle towering above gorgeous beaches.
...
"Rio doesn't have any problems," Pele said. "The city, the economy is very good. The only country that didn't suffer with the (financial crisis) is Brazil."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The White House announcement on Monday that President Barack Obama would fly in to the Danish capital to appear before the International Olympic Committee in support of Chicago's bid for the Games was the news the other three candidates least wanted.
Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo all fear that the IOC membership could be swayed by Obama's charismatic appeal, as they were four years ago when then British prime minister Tony Blair helped persuade them to choose London over clear favorites Paris for the 2012 Summer Games.
Two years later then Russian president Vladimir Putin was similarly persuasive when the Black Sea resort of Sochi, rank outsiders, won the right to stage the 2014 Winter Olympics....
Maybe obama feels that those in Copenhagen don’t know he considers himself black and they see his name and think he is arab. Needs some more face time.
Gee, let me think, where would I rather go, Rio and
white sand beaches or Chicago, the El. and babushkas.
Doh!
Ipanima Baby!
Not to mention the Christ of the Andes!
"RIO DE JANEIRO — On shimmering Copacabana beach, where Rio’s body-conscious residents play volleyball and soccer, giant screens are being readied for a live broadcast of the vote that will determine whether this city will make history by becoming the first South American city ever to host the Olympic Games."
On the streets and on the lips of radio and television broadcasters, Brazilians are abuzz with Olympics talk, and there is the distinct sense that this famous party city is ready to explode on Friday with a delirium rivaling its famed New Year’s and Carnaval celebrations if the vote for the 2016 Games goes Rio’s way.
Leaders here say winning the Olympics would be a transformational moment for Brazil, an affirmation of its rising global importance and a shot in the arm to the self-esteem of Cariocas, Rio’s residents, 85 percent of whom supported the Olympic bid in a recent poll by the International Olympic Committee.
“It would be overwhelming for our city, for our citizens and for Brazil as a whole,” said Carlos Osorio, the secretary general of Rio’s Olympic bid committee.
Happiness, in fact, is part of Rio’s pitch. The city has promised a private beach for the athletes, in front of a nature reserve in Barra da Tijuca that, in true Rio spirit, would be available at all hours. The Olympic Village would feature a Rua Carioca, a typical Rio street with cafes, bars and the swaying sounds of samba and bossa nova. If the athletes could vote, Mr. Osorio said, “it would be a landslide.”
I fear that Obama’s appearance is more of the “admire me” kind of diplomacy, rather than Blair’s “friendly” style or Putin’s stare.
I am for Chicago, but I fear he is putting to much on the line.
If Obama didn’t get in the way, it might go Chicago.
“Gee, let me think, where would I rather go, Rio and
white sand beaches or Chicago”
Do you think they will report the final vote as “close” so not to embarrass Obama?
ROFL! I’m with you...
Who wants to smell the urine and body odor of downtown Chicago? Bleckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk...
ROFL! I’m with you...
Who wants to smell the urine and body odor of downtown Chicago? Bleckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk...
all of a sudden pele is relevant?
But I have heard Rio is crime infested bigtime?
The world will be better off.
Since Brazil is mostly south of the equator, are the Summer Olympics actually their Winter Olympics? How cool is it to be in Brazil?
Outside the USA soccer (they call it “football”) is popular. It is the most popular sport in the world, FYI. Pele was soccer’s greatest star, according to many. The IOC membership are all sports enthusiasts. Rio is a city in Brazil and Pele is Brazilian.
Rootin’ for Rio!
GO RIO!
"Brazil will host the soccer World Cup in 2014 and already has projects under way to renovate its international airports in Rio and São Paulo, and build a high-speed rail system between the two cities in preparation for the event, points that work in Rio’s favor.
But its hosting of the Pan-American Games in 2007 might not. Rio politicians promised a host of urban infrastructure projects for the games, including a new metro line, that were not completed.
Mayor Eduardo Paes, who was Rio’s sports secretary during the Pan-American Games but was not involved in the original bid, acknowledged that officials over-promised. “It is obvious that the proposal contained exaggerations that clearly could not be fulfilled,” he said.
But he said this time Rio would deliver.
Rio is seeking to become the next Barcelona, Spain, a city that used the 1992 Olympic Games to improve its infrastructure and transform itself into a more popular destination for tourism and international events. Officials here say a Rio Olympics could help broaden the Games’ appeal to a wider and more youthful South American audience, while stamping Rio and Brazil with a seal of international approval.
“Rio has a lot to win from the Games,” Mr. Paes said. “And the Olympic movement has a lot to win from Rio as well.”
“Since Brazil is mostly south of the equator, are the Summer Olympics actually their Winter Olympics? How cool is it to be in Brazil?”
Rio near Tropic of Capricorn,
Tropic of Cancer near Havana, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.
What are those three places like in winter?
Based on this science, I change my choice to Rio.
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