Chicago Stunned as Obama Fails: Props to Rio

In America’s greatest sports town, people crowded the streets of Chicago, waiting on final results of the bid for the 2016 Olympics. Failing to produce elation and grant American soil with the most captivating event in all of sports, is a huge loss for President Obama.

Most of the population was convinced that he was wasting time, not focusing on reforming health care, well-rounded educational systems, the fragile economy (which is still in a recession), and bringing home the troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Myself and many others, disturbed with corrupt government, unanimously refused to condone the wooing of Olympic festivities with our country in a horrendous crisis.

Most believed there were important issues to handle in dreadful times, while there were fervid sports devotees, wearing somber facial expressions, shedding tears, stunned and afflicted about a demoralizing defeat.

From Oprah’s speech and to Michelle Obama's speech, citizens were optimistic that the Olympics belonged here at home. The stunned citizens failed to realize Oprah’s powerful advice and the Obamas' speeches weren’t good enough to manipulate the International Olympic Committee.

With vigor and command, the committee took control, and eliminated Chicago in the first round of voting. It’s difficult to believe, when the town seemed it had met an agenda with befitting qualifications to host the 2016 Summer Games.  

Some argue that America isn’t mentally and physically prepared to host the Summer Games because of financial deficits, which have impaired our country. In battered times, the least concern was accommodating the entire world. Some are quick to angrily sound off, frustrated and disgusted with the devastating recession.

When our country’s greatest automakers crashed, unemployment rates are at a high, foreclosures are at a high and homicide rates tripled, that’s indications of an arduous crisis.

For Obama, the ramifications of the international snub were huge. Once again, he failed. Many are now infuriated. He took a risk, endangering his reliability as Commander-in-Chief and wasted his valuable time when he could’ve aimed to upgrade a precarious economy.

Larger responsibilities are upon Obama, particularly when he made vows to soothe citizens in these troubling times. As it is, he traveled to Denmark needlessly, and even angered political parties by taking a trip overseas to bid for the world’s greatest sporting competition when there’s more considerable issues to be resolved at home.

The worst-case scenario is that Obama loses, but the best-case scenario is that the Olympics aren’t coming here. It clearly doesn’t belong in our backyard, as we aren’t physically and financially ready.

It didn’t take much for the IOC to recognize it, nor was it difficult for them to hand over the award to Rio de Janeiro. Once the announcement was made, the entire continent of South America celebrated a historic development with pride.

The Brazilians celebrated off the beautiful shores in paradise, embracing an astonishing gift. For the first time the Olympics will be held in South America, and Brazil is fortunate to represent the entire continent.

Filled with elation, while Chicago is filled with painful tears, South America rejoices as an entire continent has been rewarded with a surprising victory.

The IOC wasn’t buying into anything the U.S. tried to sell. The powerful voices, which suddenly were powerless inside the Danish capital, went through one ear and out the other. Oprah was there, but she was powerless, unable to change the minds of the committee’s votes.

Michelle Obama was there, but wasn’t able to sway with her zealous determination. President Obama was there, but couldn’t change the committee's mind as he has vowed to do.

Maybe they should have sent Steve Bartman, too!

It wasn’t a bad choice for the committee to turn down Chicago. Here, in the States, things are anything but flawless. As taxpayers, the Olympics would have been too costly for citizens’ wallets. Major Richard Daley said the games will cost $3.3 million, an expensive rate in a country where saving every penny matters.

But he mentioned that hosting the games would have enlarged revenue, as the city would have earned $500 million.

More shocking was the fact that Chicago was the first eliminated, stunning Rev. Jesse Jackson, who shook his head in disbelief. Even Sen. Roland Burris of Illinois and three-time Olympic gold-medalist Rowdy Gaines were stunned to hear the final outcome.

This was mind-blowing, when many were blinded and never realized it was probably for the best.  

Instead the well-deserving Rio finished first, Madrid finished second, Tokyo finished third, and Chicago finished fourth, overwhelmingly upsetting the nation as if Illinois had just busted a bracket in the NCAA tourney, as if Bartman robbed a foul ball in right field territory, or as if Michael Jordan missed the biggest shot of his lifetime.  

Most wondered if losing the bid was a backlash, or was Rio just more determined. I’ll have to say it was a combination of both, which overthrew Chicago and opened opportunities for a new continent, now able to experience glorious recognition.

For now, let’s give props to Rio.