Olympics 2016

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Chicagoans descended in droves on Daley Plaza Friday morning, in preparation to rally for what they hoped would be a Chicago victory in the 2016 Olympic bid.But the mood quickly deflated when Chicago was eliminated on the first vote.

As CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports, many people arrived as early as 7 a.m. with cameras and coffee cups in hand. By the time the program started at 9 a.m., there were thousands in the crowd, some with connections to local Olympians, others just showing their pride.

As soon as the first vote was announced at about 10:20 a.m., many in the crowd began filing out of Daley Plaza.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports that the rally started with such hope; you could feel the excitement and you certainly could see it.

"Our city is destined for great things and we're gonna get the bid," one woman said.

Two young men wrapped themselves in the Chicago flag to show their support for the bid – and to help keep warm amid the chilly Friday morning temperatures. One woman dressed up as the Statue of Liberty, her face and hair painted silver.

Besides the cheers, there were smiles, flags being waved, pictures taken; all culminating in what everyone at Daley Plaza hoped would be a first round success. Instead, less than a minute after the first vote ended, so did Chicago's hopes for 2016.

"I'm shocked an appalled that we'd be eliminated in the very first round," a disgusted Rochelle Hardy said.

"Who says no to the leader of the free world?" asked Long Grove resident Maureen Sexson. "I guess the Olympic Committee."

There was a collective gasp and then yells when the International Olympic Committee President made the unexpected announcement that Chicago had been eliminated in the first round.

"Holy cow," said Matt Marino to a friend on the phone. "No, they just announced it. Unbelievable."

"I'm a little bit numb," said Chicago resident Madison Gordon.

Three time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, who was also a rally host, tried cheering up the deflated crowd. "Whatever you do, don't give up on this great, great city," Gaines said.

Some in the crowd took those words to heart. Oak Lawn resident Matt Lewish said he hopes Chicago tries for the Olympics again.

So does DePaul student Maureen Clancy, who scratched out 2016 on some signs and wrote in 2020.

Friends Katie Dreher and Maureen Sexson had brought champagne to celebrate. That will now go unopened.

Small business owner Rob Fox made 2016 t-shirts, which now may go unworn.

"We'll still give them out to people, we're still hopeful. Maybe we'll just put a big X and change the numbers for another year," Fox said.

But, for now, supporters of Chicago's bid were left looking for their next celebration.

"We're gonna move forward," said Chicago resident Marcia Calloway. "Our city is destined for great things."

When asked what we've learned from all this, Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) said "We just gotta brush ourselves off and get back up. You know, I think we learned that we've got to get more involved in international politics."

Even after it was announced that Chicago would not host the 2016 Summer Olympics, hundreds of stunned Olympic supporters stayed behind, watching as the voting continued and, eventually, Rio de Janeiro was announced as the 2016 host city.

But not everyone was upset that Chicago was snubbed. Some people were happy.

At the Salt 'N Pepper Diner at 2575 N. Lincoln Av., we asked customer Gregg Weinstein what his first reaction was when he heard the news. "I think I said yippee. I was happy, you know? I'm done with it. I'm over it. I didn't want to see the logo in my face in every newspaper, on every cup and every product for the next eight years of my life."

Opponents of the 2016 bid had plenty of concerns about bringing the Olympic Games to Chicago.

"If we did get the games, I just thought traveling around the city would be a complete hassle, and a little concerned how the money would be utilized," said John Petrelli.

Chuck Walker was more concerned about seeing the city spend more money on schools. "The children need education and they're not getting what they need. The money is well spent on the children, not on Olympics."

There was also plenty of mistrust in Mayor Richard M. Daley and other government officials who would have overseen spending on the Olympics.
"It might have been good for Chicago but I just can't stand the idea of all these politicians going to split up all the money that they were going to take from it," said Conrad Morerro.

CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports that at UNO's Rufino Tamayo charter School, teachers were trying to let students know they should stil support the Olympics and the spirit of competition, no matter what.

"We can't be sore losers and we definitely have to support the IOC's decision either way," one teacher said. "There might be a consensus with some people that Chicago did come up short, but I still think Chicago's the greatest city."

CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez, Dana Kozlov, Derrick Blakley and Anne State contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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