Tokyo Chosen as Host for 2020 Olympics

What?! Not Chicago?!


From the AP via Breitbart:

Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympics on Saturday, capitalizing on its reputation as a "safe pair of hands" and defying concerns about the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

Tokyo defeated Istanbul 60-36 in the final round of secret voting by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul.

Tokyo, which hosted the 1964 Olympics, billed itself as the reliable choice at a time of global political and economic uncertainty _ a message that resonated with the IOC.

"Tokyo can be trusted to be the safe pair of hands and much more," bid leader and IOC member Tsunekazu Takeda said in the final presentation. "Our case today is simple. Vote for Tokyo and you vote for guaranteed delivery. ... Tokyo is the right partner at the right time."

Well, considering how the construction at the Athens' games venues barely made the deadline-- sort of-- maybe going for a first world country might be the safe choice. I mean both the IOC and whoever controls the selection process of the World Cup (FIFA?) are really rolling the dice with Brazil. Nothing against Brazil, mind you. I think these might be some of the funnest moments in all of sports... But there's still certain a unproven quality to the selection and the IOC is not going to gamble too often.

With Madrid's bid dogged by questions over Spain's economic crisis and Istanbul handicapped by political unrest and the civil war in neighboring Syria, Tokyo proved to be the least risky choice for the IOC.

"I think it was a choice between going to new shores and staying with a more traditional candidate," IOC vice president Thomas Bach said. "And this time they decided with the more traditional candidate."

IOC members have also been concerned about construction delays and other challenges plaguing preparations for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Opting for certainty in 2020 was a key priority.

"I think very much that could have been a factor," Bach said.

 Well congrats to Tokyo.

And please, please, please do not have a swarm of Mary Poppinses fighting that Harry Potter villain in your opening ceremonies. Aim higher.