There's a perception in Chicago that it is the favorite to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, and some people even seem to think awarding the Games to the Windy City is a mere formality. But U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth says that couldn't be further from the truth. Ueberroth says Chicago is "in third or fourth place," definitely behind Madrid and Tokyo and probably behind Rio de Janeiro, too.
Ueberroth says that means it's time for Chicago officials to develop relationships with the 119 voting members of the International Olympic Committee: "We all have to remember to keep focused on what we're in this for," Ueberroth said. "We're in this to get 60 votes."
And while Ueberroth would never be so vulgar as to come right out and say this, let's be honest: This is really about bribery. Oh, sure, there was a "scandal" back in the 1990s when people were "shocked" that Salt Lake City officials gave "bribes" to ensure that they'd get to host the Winter Games, and there were "reforms" to ensure that it would never happen "again."
But most if not all of the IOC members will make official visits to Chicago at some point between now and the vote in 2009, and there's a fine line between bribery and hospitality. If I know my city, a choice between crossing that line and not getting the Olympics is no choice at all.
