Four years ago, it was a two-horse race.
London and Paris were the runaway contenders for one of sport's most valued prizes. They battled to the wire for the honor of hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics.
London prevailed, winning by a nose.
Now, with only a week to go in the 2016 sweepstakes, four horses are within a neck as the finish line approaches.
On Oct. 2, the International Olympic Committee will convene in Copenhagen, Denmark to make its final decision.
Chicago, Tokyo, Madrid, and Rio de Janeiro—all in a full lather—are drawing on every reserve to claim the bittersweet prize.
Bitter, because the victor will be forced to extricate from its citizens the monies and patience necessary to undertake such a huge project.
Sweet, because the winner will lavish upon itself the immense influx of tourist spending, local employment and worldwide publicity.
Since June of 2008, when all the bidding cities were reduced to the present short list, a feverish campaign of persuasion has been launched by the four contenders. In the spring of 2009, a 10-member committee visited each venue, evaluating the feasibility of hosting such a...
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