2016 Olympic race too close to call ahead of vote

Rio Rio Rio Rio Rio Rio Rio

Japan and America have too much debt already.

“The favorite doesn’t always win.” That's good news for you and me, and Tiger Woods competition 67% of the time that he also doesn't win. I'm a Chicago native and of course rooting for my home town, but I have a gut reaction Rio will take the marbles this time, since S.America has never had an Olympics. t-minus 12 hours?

I'm for Rio. Its a beautiful city. Also, I want to see the liberal US media scream "racism" when they lose...

Japan and America have too much debt already

That's why both these countires are trying hard for Olympics...economists not astrologers have told them 'Olympics will bring new life to their economy.

.

@Tatanka

I want to see the liberal US media scream "racism" when they lose...

Why would they scream racism if Rio gets it? That doesn't make sense at all.

I hope Chicago gets it. Rio would be nice but I don't think they are prepared to host something like that yet.

In a few hours from now one city will plunge into hundreds of millions of dollars of debt to host an event that once it's over they'll never be able to recover its investment. The other cities will watch the Olympics at home for free.

Would be nice if whoever wins cuts down the scale of the Opening Ceremonies which are getting utterly ridiculous.

Wonder if Michelle Obama's plea to the IOC that Chicago should get the Olympics because American children are obese will sway voters to give chi-town the nod?

Michelle said her speech would not leave a dry eye in the room. I must admit her plea for the fat kids did leave me in tears because I was laughing so hard.

Many people dont know about that, but in order to make this event, Lula will have to spend billions of dollars, and the Brazilian Government does not have this money. So what the Government will do??? Take this money from Healthy Care, Education, Agriculture, etc...

In other words, only the rich people will be benefit and the poor will suffer more with this defict.

If for one side Rio has beautiful beachs, Rio also have slums, street boys, beggers, drug sellers, violence, etc...Those problems have been a big problem since 1950s when migrants from other states came in massa migration. Most did not get jobs and could not go back to their hometowns, so they had to stay in slums, and the number of slums keep increasing every year because the Rio de Janeiro's Goverment cannot control such problem. Well the question is, if the Rio Government did not do anything to controll or stop this problem in these 60 years, so how the government of Rio will stop it in 7 years from now.

Even though as a local I hate the idea of Tokyo getting these games, it would be really big boost for my business.

But Rio will probably take the prize.

I'm 100% for Rio. Japan's had it's day in the sun. So has the US. It's time for a little bit of that sunshine to fall on Brazil.

Rio! Rio! Rio!

How come jt hasn't posted the result yet, even thought this article saying " in 30 mins" was posted at 130 am?

Moderator: The winner will announced early Saturday morning Japan time. The 30 minutes refers to the announcement process.

"Only Tokyo seemed to have fallen out of the running. " Not surprised!

I have a feeling it will be Rio.

I read last night on another news source that Chicago was in the lead, with Rio a close second. My vote goes to Rio.

buggerlugs: "How come jt hasn't posted the result yet, even thought this article saying " in 30 mins" was posted at 130 am?"

Easy to misread that as being "the decision will have been made 30 minutes from now", but it actually means that once the process starts, which it hasn't yet, it will be over within 30 minutes (of starting time).

"Only Tokyo seemed to have fallen out of the running."

Uh-oh! I wonder what smartacus thinks....

Aha. Cheers. Next time I'll read it properly next time.

Rio also have slums, street boys, beggers, drug sellers, violence, etc...Those problems have been a big problem since 1950s when migrants from other states came in massa migration. Most did not get jobs and could not go back to their hometowns, so they had to stay in slums, and the number of slums keep increasing every year because the Rio de Janeiro's Goverment cannot control such problem.

Sounds a bit like Chicago too.

smithinjapan

I don't think the media reports are any indication of which city is favorite. I'll just repeat what I've said many times: as a resident of Tokyo, I'd love for the city to get the Games. It would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience (for me and my family, at least). But I won't be sad if Rio gets it.

Not surprised Tokyo has fallen out of the running, but surprised that people think Madrid still has a chance. Its clearly down to Rio & Chicago now. I'd guess when Spain drops out in the 2nd round of voting, the Spanish votes would then go to the colony of their neighbour.

smartacus: I was largely just having a go at you, but... "I don't think the media reports are any indication of which city is favorite."

You don't think the media reports are much of an indication, but you thought the Japan Today poll seemed to be indicative to an extent, no? That's what I was referring to, and what I commented on that day as well. I'd like to see the Olympics live as well, but would rather not see them go to Tokyo -- I feel Rio (and South America) deserves it more.

i think they postponed the announcement until Friday evening.

What is this exit balloting? Yeah we all know how the media can be. I think Gore won florida.

if tokyo doesn't get it, i'm rooting for rio. i would hate it if it's in chicago :P

I do hope Rio gets it. Second vote for Madrid.

Everybody's hating on Chicago. Go Chicago #1 and second Rio. Madrid and Tokyo who?

Well, Madrid wont get it, as London will have 2012, and the main reason people say Tokyo wont get it is that the 2008 games were in Asia. Unless, of course, that wasnt the reason at all ;).

Chicago shouldnt have it either, the US has already hosted olympics at least twice. Japan has also had the games once, but that was quite a whie ago, and so I'd say they are the Nr2 deserving to win.

SA has never had the games, they deserve it the most.

Still, money will decide this, like usual. Money and Obama's skill at manipulating feelings, maybe.

Sounds a bit like Chicago too.

Yes. it will benefit the riches rather than the poor Brazilians

2014 soccer World Cup will be hosted by Brazil, and they also want olympic too?

can they do that? take a look at Rio hosted the Pan American Games in 2007 and see what Brazil had learned. close to $2 billion had been spend on mainly ... promising.

the 12 stadiums promised for fifa world cup hasn't even been start yet! well! what to say.

I think over 8 Olympics (including winter) have been held in the US.

I was reading some are waiting for to see how they do in the World Cup (handling a major international competition) before waiting it off.

On paper, of all the cities, Tokyo is probably the most prepared in terms of infrastructure. Of course that probably doesn't amount for much when you had games in places like ATLANTA??

I hope Chicago will get it. Some fellow Americans want Chicago to fail or they want Obama to fail.

Chicago? Have you ever visted there? Drove thru there? Dared to spend a night there? The roads and basic infrastructure are terrible, not sure who has been running the place the last couple decades but the infrastructure does not exist. It would be an embarrassment regardless of who or what color the president is.

What city should get them then? I am in for Rio. Pollution, crime, housing shortages - all problems are solved, if only they get the Olympics: 2016 Prior to the awarding of the Summer Games, the candidate cities come up with bizarre promises and Celebrity Parades.

Unfortunately I believe Tokyo will not make the final selection although it should. It will be either Rio or Chicago in terms of economics. Let's face it: the U.S. market will dictate the location this time. It draws stronger TV viewerships and sponsorships from the big networks (Fox, ESPN, NBC, CBS, ABC) than anywhere else in the world provided the Olympics are shown during their prime time hours. Both Rio and Chicago are relatively within the same time zone that fits the U.S. market as opposed to distant countries where the events are shown in the late p.m. or early morning hours. It will generate a lot more cash for the IOC if Chicago or Rio is selected. The Japanese government will have to sweeten the pot in behalf of NHK to outbid the U.S. networks provided IOC agrees to select Tokyo in return. I'm sure this is part of the package the U.S. is using to promote Chicago.

I hate to say this but I think the winner will be Chicago... What I dont want to see is that over-weight...Oprah Winfrey on the box (slang for television)jumping up and down when it is announced... and then to see her doing the Torch Relay...I am glad to live in Australia...but I am persuading the wife to move back to (Kobe) Japan in the new year...

And the Winner is....CHICAGO!

No doubt.

Now that I think about it, the US might need the games the most. Chicago is a dump, and only receiving the games would let Obama convince the congress to let him rebuild it with tax money. A giant project like this is just what the US needs to move into the next financial bubble and get the economy going.

Tokyo has a much greater political ability for deficit spending, and thus doesn't need the games as much. I don't know about Rio or Madrid.

Chicago? Home of the schoolyard gang murders?

Chicago? Doesn't compare at all to Rio, much less Tokyo. No way.

Cry for me Chicago............ Go Rio!