Despite what Sports Illustrated called, “by all accounts, one of the strongest (bids) ever by a U.S. city”, Chicago was trounced by Rio De Janeiro in its efforts to bring the Olympic Games back to the States as IOC members voted Chicago just 18 times out of 96. Critics and really apologists can point to any and all “factors” in what swayed voters so heavily, but the situation remains, the IOC and U.S. Olympic Committe are still at arms since the USOC forced the departure of IOC favorite, Jim Scherr, former CEO of the USOC. Yes, this will be the Olympics first hosting on the continent of South America, yes Brazil has been trying this entire decade to bring the games to its country. But still…
After losing out on the bid, and not helping relations, Sherr’s interim replacement Stephanie Sheeter, already on wrong side of IOC’s opinions for being one to help force Sherr out, has just recently stepped down from her position. One that was almost definitely to be forceably lost anyhow. Not only are inter-organizational relations poor, internally, the USOC is a mess. No CEO, no prospects (at least none in IOC’s favor)…So, as it is, with money issues still at the heart of these disparages, a “still-unresolved spat over the high percentage of revenues the USOC receives from IOC television contracts and marketing agreements” (Cazeneuve, Brian, SI, Oct 12th Issue, SI.com) and the new Olympic Network being launched by USOC despite the IOC’s request for time before doing so, one must wonder when we’ll see the great games back on American soil. What’s more, great and more than capable countries and cities head the bid list for 2020 including Italy (Rome), Japan (Tokyo), and Canada (Toronto), none of which have seen the games in a half century.
Here’s hoping Chicago can silence these contentions and refine it’s bid for 2020 much like Rio did for 2016. If not, Americans could be looking at another 2 decades before the Olympics return.
JD
