Chicago citizens gathering in downtown where shocked when the cities bid was the first of the four eliminated

The IOC announced on Friday that the 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Brazil seemed to be a global favorite for hosting the games even though hosting the games in the South American city will present more obstacles than any other of the four final cities that were in the running.

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Chicago citizens gathering in downtown where shocked when the cities bid was the first of the four eliminated

The IOC announced on Friday that the 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Brazil seemed to be a global favorite for hosting the games even though hosting the games in the South American city will present more obstacles than any other of the four final cities that were in the running.

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I hear you, Aaron, but missing out on the Olympics is pretty bad for American soccer, especially women's soccer.
The Olympics have historically been very kind to the USWNT. Remember, the Golden Generation got their big boost from the Richard Jewell Olympics in 1996, the worst in human memory. Click to continue reading...

Am I shocked that Chicago bombed out of the 2016 Olympic bidding? Not really.
Am I shocked that they bombed out in the first round of voting? Yes, quite a bit.
I should add that I have always been an enthusiast and supporter of the Olympics and, had I stayed a sportswriter, aimed towards someday covering the Olympics as a beat. Click to continue reading...

Many countries hoping to host a World Cup find themselves having to build new stadia in order to meet the strict FIFA standards. Japan, however, only need build an 80,000-seater stadium in which to hold the 2018 World Cup Final, and there are plans in place to do so. There is a problem, however - namely that the stadium will only be built if Tokyo wins its bid to host the 2016 Olympics. Click to continue reading...

I hate that I am becoming the new "Takedown-meister" here on BS, but this comment on Ed's US-Mexico recap has set me off.
Quote: Originally Posted by FijiUnited Americans have always been change agents. If anyone can change the referee problem in CONCACAF, its us. Click to continue reading...

The worldwide FIFA organization are petitioning the International Olympic Committee to help devise new rules regarding soccer in the Olympic games. One of the rules they are hoping to change is the baring of any player over 21 years old.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter

This they hope will help encourage young talent by giving them a platform from which to shine.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

If you were watching the U.S. Olympic team play and felt like something was missing, it's because something was.

The U.S. Soccer crest (pictured below) that is emblazoned on every U.

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I am genuinely surprised that the Court for Arbitration of Sport sided with the clubs here and not with FIFA. You have to imagine that FIFA and the IOC will now attempt to codify the "customs" into rules to prevent this from happening again. Cas found that Fifa's position was based on custom rather than law, [. Click to continue reading...

In its 104 year existence, FIFA has had 8 presidents. The last two, Joao Havelange and Sepp Blatter have ruled for 34 years. Yes, since the year Richard Nixon resigned. FIFA now has the biggest conglemeration of countries, bigger than the IOC or the UN.

It is also highly corporatized as well as despotic and capricious.

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Bruce Djite out, Nathan Burns out, bu Canberran Nikolai Topor-Stanley is in. The Olyroo squad has been named, and eleven A-League players are in the 18.
Australian Football's Big Chance
The announcement today of the men's football section of the Australian Olympic team was a long-awaited reward for eighteen promising athletes. Click to continue reading...

- A group of MLS executives are set to visit Portland, Oregon, to assess the feasibility of placing an expansion franchise there by 2012. The committee will meet with Merritt Paulson among other local officials and businessmen to determine whether they have the proper facilities to maintain a club. The startup cost of an MLS franchise is $20m.
- The International Olympic Committee has placed their support behind UEFA President Michel Platini in his quest to take football out of the hands of profit for the better of the sport. Click to continue reading...