When the city representing your country is rejected, it’s easy to view the decision of the International Olympic Committee in personal terms. But maybe the IOC decision for Rio has nothing personal at all to do with Chicago or the United States or Barack Obama. A decision strengthening both Americas shows that the Olympic Movement is a force for historic development in emerging economies, reinforcing previous decisions for Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing and Sochi. The Americas will host the Olympics twice within six years, with Vancouver in 2010 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The Rio decision is a source of pride for all Americans, presenting an historic opportunity to strengthen relationships between the South and the North. Olympic competition in Vancouver is only four months away, and it will be exciting to watch these Winter Games in the company of joyful American neighbors in Brazil.
