By Steve knight/editor-in-chief
The International Olympic Committee, the same folks that force badminton, rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming and the modern pentathlon down the throats of television viewers every four years, elected Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the host of the 2016 Olympic Games at its Congress in Denmark Oct. 2.
The IOC made a good choice in Rio, a stunning city in a soccer-mad country and a continent that has not hosted the Olympic Games before.
However, the fact that Chicago received only 18 votes, eliminating the city after the first round of voting, must be questioned.
By dropping baseball and softball, both perceived to be American sports, from its program, and by voting for London and Rio instead of New York and Chicago, the IOC gives off a perception of anti-Americanism.
How can the Olympic movement continue without American corporate funding and know-how? The IOC seems to think it can.
“It’s clear that the IOC in its choice has not chosen — as it was criticized for many times — the big money,” IOC president Jacques Rogge said at his closing news conference at the Olympic Congress. “Had we had big money as a consideration, we would have come to Chicago. That’s quite sure. So that proves that money is not the driving force in the choice of an Olympic city.”
According to the IOC, broadcasting is its greatest source of revenue.
NBC, who reportedly paid $893 million for the 2008 Beijing games, is not going to pay the same premium fees for a South American Olympics that it would have for a Chicago games, nor will any other American broadcaster.
Accounting for more than 40 percent of Olympic revenue, the Olympic Partners sponsorship program consists of nine corporations, four American-owned, including Coca-Cola, General Electric (NBC’s parent company), McDonald’s and VISA.
The IOC cannot continue to ignore bids from American cities.
Despite the anti-American sentiment, the Olympic Games need to make an American stop soon if the IOC is to keep its large broadcasting and sponsorship revenue streams strong.
The Olympic Games needs America more than America needs the Olympic Games.
