Snub for Barack Obama as Rio Hosts 2016 Olympic Games
Rio's Copacabana beach erupted upon hearing the result. Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: The International Olympic Committee handed President Obama a humiliating defeat today after his home town of Chicago made a shock early exit in the race to become host of the 2016 Olympics, with Rio de Janeiro declared the winner.

A massive beachside crowd erupted in Rio as Brazil’s victory was announced - ushering in a new world order in sport - but there was stunned silence among the throng gathered in Chicago’s Daley plaza.

They had expected their city to win after Mr Obama had flown in Air Force One to Copenhagen, where the vote took place, to make a personal, last-minute appeal to the IOC delegates, along with his wife Michelle and the television star Oprah Winfrey.

The disbelief in Chicago after the city was knocked out first with the least number of votes symbolized the shock felt across America at such a crushing defeat and the fact that the IOC had delivered such a public humiliation to Mr Obama.

A White House spokesman said that Mr Obama was “disappointed” at the decision, but insisted that he was not sorry to have gone to Copenhagen. >>> Ashling O’Connor in Copenhagen, Tim Reid in Washington and James Bone in Chicago | Friday, October 02, 2009

Rio de Janeiro Wins Right to Stage 2016 Olympic Games
THE TELEGRAPH: The International Olympic Committee struck a blow for the developing world and delivered a stunning rebuke to the United States and President Barack Obama on Friday, selecting Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 summer Games after a dramatic election that saw Chicago dumped out in the first round. >>> Paul Kelso in Copenhagen | Friday, October 02, 2009



Obama’s Olympic Failure Will Only Add to Doubts about His Presidency

TIMES ONLINE: There has been a growing narrative taking hold about Barack Obama’s presidency in recent weeks: that he is loved by many, but feared by none; that he is full of lofty vision, but is actually achieving nothing with his grandiloquence.

Chicago’s dismal showing today, after Mr Obama’s personal, impassioned last-minute pitch, is a stunning humiliation for this President. It cannot be emphasised enough how this will feed the perception that on the world stage he looks good — but carries no heft.

It was only the Olympic Games, the White House will argue — not a high-stakes diplomatic gamble with North Korea. It is always worthwhile when Mr Obama sells America to the rest of the world, David Axelrod, his chief political adviser, said today. But that argument will fall on deaf ears in the US. Americans want their presidents to be winners.

Mr Obama was greeted — as usual — like a rock star by the IOC delegates in Copenhagen — then humiliated by them. Perception is reality. A narrow defeat for Chicago would have been acceptable — but the sheer scale of the defeat was a bombshell, and is a major blow for Mr Obama at a time when questions are being asked about his style of governance. >>> Tim Reid in Washington | Friday, October 02, 2009