The Race for 2016

Hey Hey two post in one day, this is new for me. As a political studies major one thing I find absolutely fascinating is the bid process for the Olympic Games, it’s a political study unto itself. So now behind the two-year race for the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. With seven applicant cities from around the world, this is going to shake up to be an interesting bid process, especially given the recent charges of corruption in the bid process. Anyway, here are the seven cities with bids underway and a few speculations on each. At the end, I will give my short list predications, and a preliminary on how I think an IOC vote would shake down if held today.

The Cities
Baku Azerbaijan
One of two asian cities in the mix this year with a population of around 1.1 million, Bake has never bid for the olympic games.


Chicago USA
Chicago is no first timer in bidding for the Olympics with bids for the 1904, 1952, and 1956 summer games. Chicago was selected as the host city of the 1904 games before they got moved to St. Louis to go along with the worlds fair, a move that proved to eclipse the games by the worlds fair. Does Chicago have what it takes to carry the US to hosting the games after the NYC 2012 bid fell apart at the eleventh hour?

Doha Qatar
The only city from the Persian Gulf to bid, with a population under 400,000.

Madrid Spain

Madrid is another contender who has experiance in the bid process after unsuccessful bids in 1972, as well as other spannish bids for 2004, 2008, 1998, and 2010 spain has its share of losses, but can they pull it off this year. Spain last hosted the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Prague Czech Republic

Prague bid for the 1924, but the Czech Republic so far has never hosted an olympic games.

Rio de Janiero Brazil

Rio has bid for the 1936, 2004,and 2012 games (Rio failed to make the 2012 short list). So far no South American city has hosted the Olympics. However with the recent success of the Pan American Games this could be Rio's year to suprise us yet.

Tokyo Japan
Tokyo has hosted the games before in 1964, and Japan with Nagano 1998. The nations last bid was for the 2008 games wonby Beijing. Will the IOC go for another repeat right after london? either way Tokyo is a serious contender.

Short List Predictions

At this point, my early(Very early) short list prediction is as follows

Short list:

Chicago, USA

Madrid, Spain

Rio de Janiero, Brazil

Tokyo, Japan

Cut List:

Baku

Doha

Prague

IOC Vote Predictions

I look for Rio to bow out early, They are good, but I think the sentiment is there to put the games in South Africa Before South America, Cape Town 2020 has paid their dues and they should be next. I also look for Tokyo to go out in round 2, with an Asian city hosting in 8and a three time host in 2012 I don’t look for the IOC to go with another previous host city. I look for the final round to be between Chicago and Madrid, and this is hard to call, I think the 2012 host (London) hurts Madrid since they are both European cities and traditionally the games are not held back to back on the same continent. But it’s early and a lot can change in two years. So stay posted.