Posted on 10/03/2009 8:09:52 AM PDT by Clint Williams
An anonymous reader writes
"Yesterday, Chicago lost its bid for the 2016 Olympics (which went to Rio de Janiero instead), and it's looking very likely that US border procedures were one of the main factors which knocked Chicago out of the race: 'Among the toughest questions posed to the Chicago bid team this week in Copenhagen was one that raised the issue of what kind of welcome foreigners would get from airport officials when they arrived in this country to attend the Games. Syed Shahid Ali, an I.O.C. member from Pakistan, in the question-and-answer session following Chicago's official presentation, pointed out that entering the United States can be "a rather harrowing experience." ... The exchange underscores what tourism officials here have been saying for years about the sometimes rigorous entry process for foreigners, which they see as a deterrent to tourism.'"
The answer to why the US lost the bid to hold the Olympics in 2016 is so obvious and self-evident, it’s not funny.
What is funny is how the media and some pundits are willing to rhyme and reason despite the obvious and self-evident.
There are different security protocols at Immigration for Americans and foreigners. Post 911, it's a bit tricky for foreigners to enter the US assuming they fly in on an airplane. Swimming across the Rio Grande is another story.
In Iceland they are very professional but courteous at the same time. I have been over there 3 times in this year. Upon return, arriving in JFK all the personnel seem to have a really nasty attitude. They snarl and growl and are just nasty. Polite is not in the vocabulary. Coming into Logan has been much better. Only on one trip was one agent at passport control unpleasant..the others were fine to everyone but the line I was in, the man was ugly to everyone. I cannot speak to other airports.
/johnny
Gee, you mean it doesn’t have anything to do with our lying president?
In other words, given where terrorists are currently hiding bombs and the reluctance of athletes to have probes inserted THERE, the IOC decided to go to Brazil instead of going through our TSA harrassment.
Hmmmm, didn’t seem to bother the last Olympics we had here.
No, Chicago lost the Olympics because of 0 control.
Publius, you really nailed this one.
I nominate you for FR truth czar.
The Libs will spin but the result is plain: Obama promised us the world would love us again. He gave speeches in Europe. He gave speeches in the Muslim countries. He gave a speech at the UN. Yet the world does not love us.
Obama failed his promise.
Chicago lost because all the other cities made better and more reasonable arguments for their cause.
Obummer’s argument was “Okay now that you all like me and like the way I will soon be running the world, you can show your appreciation by voting for Chicago.”
I.O.C. gived Obama the finger and the media will spin any story to cover for Obama but that is getting old even for the progressives.
We require a passport just like Brazil does? This is really silly!
Try the Dominican Republic. Leaving the country a while back, a young lady who spoke good English (my Spanish is not very good but good enough) wanted to take my cell phone. I have a wife, step kids and grandchildren there so I showed her pictures on my phone and softened her up. They are tough there. I’ve been wanded, frisked, emptied my pockets and the like. They’re trying to show the US how tough they are.
I miss the old days when your friends and family could walk to the gate with you or, on arrival, be at the gate to greet you. Oh well, I guess I’m just getting old.
The IOC nixed Chicago’s bid and gave it to Brazil because South America has never hosted the games. Maybe it’s time to share with our neighbors. I really don’t mind Obama and Richard Daley being p***ed off. So be it. The loss of jobs the games would provided is unfortunate, however.
I got shaving cream and shampoo yanked from my check-in baggage at the Haikou airport on Hainan China. I thought it was very odd.
BTW - I like the idea of Rio for the site. It will be interesting to see the sites.
I am glad they chose Rio too. A first for them and they deserve it. They’ve been waiting a long time probably. I am also glad that Chicago came in dead last in the voting.
I love the drudge report headline about the ego has landed.
Not my experience at all, and I'm over there several times a year. (I have 6 years left on my current passport, already have had to have the extra pages added to it, and at the current rate of travel I will need a new passport in 3 to 4 years.)
They don't even ask why I'm there; they just swipe, stamp and send me on. Foreigners entering here go through more, including iris scans and maybe still fingerprinting, and I don't know what else.
As a U.S. member of an International Standards Organization technical committee, I can say that when it's the U.S. hosting the annual face-to-face meeting, we work hard to find meeting locations attractive enough to draw our international colleagues despite the security barrier they have to clear.
Heh. I was there last week too (Mon-Wed at the LV Hilton & Conference Center) but almost all I heard was American English.
My preferred usual airports of re-entry: EWR (Newark_ -- most friendly Immigration staff, MSP (Minneapolis), SEA (Seattle, 'cuz it's home), IAH (Houston). Least preferred: DTW (Detroit).
1. Pay $130 (nonrefundable) for Visa Application.
2. Fill out on-line documentation about who you are.
3. Get interview with Embassy to get approval.
4. Get denied Visa for no apparent reason.
I went to Thailand this year, got visa by filling out short form on plane and going through immigration. I was in the terminal in less than 10 minutes from getting off plane.
For a Foreigner to come here the process really sucks.
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