Chicago, Tokyo Out of Running to Host Olympics

Extracted from the Washington Post

COPENHAGEN, Oct. 2 -- Chicago received a shocking first-round exit from the race to hold the 2016 Summer Games, becoming the first city eliminated when International Olympic Committee members cast votes in a secret ballot Friday.

Chicago's elimination came just hours after President Obama had spent five hours here early Friday, urging the IOC to choose Chicago and promising that "the city of Chicago and the United States of America will make the world proud."

IOC President Jacques Rogge did not announce the number of votes each city received; those results were expected to be made available at the end of the selection.

Tokyo was eliminated in the second round, setting up a final-round duel between Madrid and Rio de Janeiro.

Chicago's elimination elicited audible gasps from those in the Bella Center ballroom where the voting took place. Ninety-four valid votes were cast.

The United States has now suffered two crushing defeats in Olympic selections. In the race for the 2012 Summer Games, New York City finished fourth, but its bid had been damaged when its plans for a $1 billion Olympic stadium collapsed a month before the vote. London prevailed in the race for those Games.

In his speech to the IOC, the first such address by a sitting U.S. president, Obama had emphasized Chicago's diversity and America's desire to bring the world together.