Chicago Loses Olympic Bid

So much for the clout of the Obamas and Oprah. Chicago lost its bid to host the 2016 Olympics after being eliminated in today's first round of voting in Copenhagen. Despite personal appeals by the president and first lady, the city got the fewest votes in the International Olympic Committee tally. Tokyo also missed the early cut, leaving Madrid and Rio de Janeiro battling for the honor. Rio eventually won, reports the Chicago Tribune.

The mood among the Chicago contingent in Copenhagen ranges between "shock and devastation," says one member. Larry Probst, chairman of the US Olympic Committee, left the convention center immediately and refused to comment to reporters who trailed him for blocks, notes the Sun-Times. President Obama, flying home after his morning pitch in Copenhagen, learned of the news aboard Air Force One.
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