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London Calling and Getting 2012 Olympics

London will be the host city for the 2012 Olympics and millions of Parisians are muttering, "Zut alors!" and many NBC executives thinking, "Thank God, they speak the same language and the time difference isn't too bad." Newscasters mentioned previous years' failed bids from Manchester and Birmingham (seriously!), but Gothamist knows London's secret weapon: David Beckham, who appeared in Singapore. Thankfully, we already have a site set up there - check out Londonist's coverage of the Olympics and their thoughts about the news ("Debate, conjecture, disruption, increased tax bills and negative Evening Standard reports are all just round the corner, but for now, who cares? Let's have a party.") And above is Zaha Hadid's design for the Aquatic Center.

2005_07_nycoly.jpgAnd cityside, there's no official statement from the Mayor or Deputy Mayor Daniel "West Side Stadium/ Olympics Boy" Doctoroff yet, but there was this "Thank you" on the City's website. And we're revisiting the IOC's bid analysis just for fun.

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Comments [rss]

  • Ashley Norris

    It seems we(London) owe the games to you New Yorkers. It appears London got all NY's votes after the city was eliminated. So cheers to you all and how about a knighthood for Hilary Clinton.

  • Dirk

    Perhaps has an alternate plan, the Mayor can try to host the 2012 Special Olympics?

  • Bao

    Any idea of where to find the presentation videos online? I found the London film at the BBC website and it was really well-done. I wanted to see the New York one though.

  • Kojak

    The Mets should go ahead and build it. They have the space, the money, and a decent design.

    Why should we let the Yankees have all the fun in getting a new stadium?

  • sp

    I wonder what this means for Shea Stadium and the Mets.

  • jorge

    Also:

    "Although the mayor and his Olympic bid official scrambled together a "plan B" in the borough of Queens, it spoke volumes about the strange sense of ambivalence felt here.

    Raising New York's ability to cope in the wake of the 11 September attacks smacked a little bit of desperation by the city's delegation in Singapore, perhaps.

    It also linked this great international city a little too much with an administration that is deeply unpopular around the world.

    The final result was carried with great excitement, live on all the breakfast television networks. Some channels were taking a wicked delight in Paris' disappointment."

  • jorge

    From the BBC news website:

    "In the end, New Yorkers will shrug their shoulders, knowing that other great things will be coming their way soon. The 2012 Olympics is just another stale-bagel of an idea now, and by lunchtime the rejection will be forgotten."

    yeah!

  • oscar madison

    Congratulations to London; you know they will put on a spectacular event - what a great city. For all the NYC doubters, you'll never know how beneficial this would have been for us.

    Oh and thank god that paris lost - they would have screwed the whole thing up and told everyone how great it was.

  • Eddie

    Hooray, no Olympics here! The city is already crazy as it is! Chirac's comment on UK'S Mad Cow and being the worst food in Europe is disrespectful. Btw, London has had the Olympics twice now...1908 and 1948.

  • Well, I'm disappointed. Hopefully a lot of the development that was proposed for the Olympics will still get done, like the development of the Queens waterfront.

  • Oh thank GOD.

  • So what discount closeout chainstore will get all of the NYC 2012 promotion junk? With Job Lot gone and Odd Lot gone and Amazing Savings gone, then it I guess Jack's 99 Cent Store will be "Shattered Oylmpic Dream" paraphenallia HQ!

    Stock up on your irony, folks!

  • Rose

    Hooray! It's not here!

  • modernangel

    couldn't be happier... NYC shouldn't hold the olympics.

  • Birdski

    YAY! another city gets to handle an expensive, bread & circus jock gloryfest.

  • anon

    New York is not able to compete on the world stage. Have you seen London lateley? It Rocks.

  • We think Chirac is an idiot, but we're firm in our belief that London won, rather than Paris losing. Seb Coe ran a masterful campaign, which is amazing, considering some of our sporting administration disaters of recent years.

    For the record, we're the first city to have hosted the (modern) games three times. And we're clearly very smug....apologies.

  • timThompson

    So did London, but I agree, better London than Paris.



    I wonder if Chirac's comment on British food will be blamed? I'm sure they're crowing about it in the UK.

  • Kojak

    Not much of a surprise.

    Better London then Paris. Paris already had an Olympics did they?

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