Passionate Rio upstages Obama’s Chicago, Tokyo, before IOC (4th Lead)
Olympics 2008 News
By John Bagratuni Oct 2, 2009, 11:27 GMT
Copenhagen - Chicago lobbyist US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama were upstaged by a passionate Rio de Janeiro bid urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bring the Olympics to South America for the first time.
‘Rio is ready, give us this chance and you will not regret it,’ said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as Rio again presented a world map showing South America (and Africa) as a blank Olympic spot.
‘I honestly believe it’s Rio’s time ... It would send a powerful message that the Olympics belong to all continents, all humanity.’
Rio made a powerful and emotional 45-minute presentation after a Chicago pitch mainly lit up by the Obamas and a surprisingly passionate Tokyo show spearheaded by a young school girl.
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Music to my eyes. Losing this actually could be his real Waterloo moment and I would applaud that.
Not only that, Brazil is still an ally, I wouldn’t want to alienate them any more than we have some of our other Southern Hemisphere partners...read Columbia trade treaty. etc.
Thanks for the report. I wonder whether the U.S. $10B loan to Brazil’s (and Soros’) Petrobras earlier this year was used as a big wooden whuppin’ plank in the decision process.
They deserve it. We hosted a few years back and have done so many times. I hope to God Rio wins.