2016 Olympics: Host City Decision Out Friday

by candice.tsuei | September 30, 2009 at 12:15 pm

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The host of the 2016 Olympics Games will be decided in Copenhagen on Friday, finalizing an 18-month race between Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, and Tokyo.

On Friday, the presentation ceremony will begin at 07:30 BST. Then Chicago will make the first presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members at around 07:50, with Tokyo scheduled at 09:30, Rio de Janeiro at 11:10, and Madrid at 13:50. The winning bid will be announced by 18:00.

It is widely believed that Chicago are the favorites to land the Olympic Games. To support the bid, U.S. President Barack Obama, a former Illinois senator and Chicago resident, will be attending the ceremony. He is also the first incumbent U.S. President to come in person in attempt to influence the choice of the IOC delegates. A poll conducted this month by the Chicago Tribune showed that there was almost an even split in residents - 47 per cent in favour of the bid and 45 per cent against.

Beside Obama, other big names including King of Spain, Juan Carlos, the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula Silva, and Japan's new Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, are all coming to Copenhagen to lobby for their respective cities.

Rio's chances are said to have receded a little because Brazil is already due to host the 2014 football World Cup, and the IOC fears Rio could immediately run into problems with attracting sponsors for 2016.

Other factors that play against Rio include concerns over crime and security.

Madrid, loser to London in the 2005 bidding process for the 2012 Games, boasts a sound plan, having already built most of its venues. It also has the behind-the-scenes support of former IOC president and current honorary president Juan Antonio Samaranch and credit in the bank from previous bids.

Tokyo also makes a compelling case on paper: a compact Games with superb green and redevelopment credentials.

If Madrid won the bid, it would be the third European-based city for Olympics in a row, with London in 2012 and Sochi in 2014. On the other hand, one factor concerning Tokyo's bid is that it can be too like and too close to the Beijing, the host last year.

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