In a decision that shocked the proponents of a 2016 Chicago Olympics, the International Olympic Committee eliminated Chicago from consideration in the first round. The final round of voting will select either Rio de Janeiro or Madrid.
Pulling out all stops, President Obama, the First Lady and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley delivered their presentations to the I.O.C. in Copenhagen on Friday.
According to The New York Times, Chicago’s bid leaders had worked for nearly four years and spent close to $50 million to bring the Olympics to the United States for the first time in 20 years.
Obama was the first American president to make an in-person appeal to the I.O.C. to select an American city for the Olympics. Another first occurred when Michelle Obama also came to Copenhagen earlier this week to lobby I.O.C. members for votes.
The Times stated that Throngs watching the voting in downtown Chicago’s Daley Plaza gasped in disappointment as the announcement was made. United States Olympic Committee leaders appeared stunned by the news and had no comment as they left the voting hall.
Adding insult to injury, Chicago was eliminated because, of all locations under consideration, it actually received the fewest number of votes in the first round.
