The crying Games

Faced with flawless bids on all sides, a candidate city can gain a competitive edge by expressing emotion – but can it go too far?

“To choose between four excellent candidates is always a difficult and sometimes a painful exercise. I think of those who were unsuccessful, we thank them and we understand their disappointment; they had excellent bids,” said IOC president Jacques Rogge after announcing Rio as the winner.

For many, 2 October 2009 was the most emotional day of
their careers (Photo: IOC / Richard Juilliart)

As well as pain for the IOC, the brilliance of the bids brought joy for the winners and agony for the losers. All four candidates proved themselves capable of hosting uniquely outstanding Games. And, aware of the strength of the competition, they all went to unprecedented lengths to add personality, warmth and strong emotion to their campaigns.

Chicago blues
The appearance of Oprah Winfrey in Copenhagen set the tone. This contest was going to be all about getting feelings out in the open. But Chicago’s downfall was to place itself at the centre of the debate. Addressing a question from IOC member Prince Albert of Monaco on legacy, Obama responded: “One of the legacies of this Olympics Games in Chicago would be a restoration of that understanding of what the United States is all about.”

For all its desire to reunite the US with the rest of the world, Chicago’s bid was left out in the cold – like Buddy Guy in the film presented to the IOC, who, after singing “Sweet Home Chicago” with his band, flips off his amplifier and walks down the road alone.

Tokyo tears
In contrast, the Tokyo bid team showed remarkable self awareness. Bid chief Dr Ichiro Kono told Host City after the presentation: “The people who have visited Japan, they know of our tradition, of our motivation, but many people said ‘you must show more passion in the presentation’. After that, we started thinking about what would be good for the presentation.”

During the presentation, the blind Paralympic swimmer Junichi Kawai gave a vivid vision of an emotional future for Tokyo: “With eyes in my heart, I can see a passionate crowd, cheering with all their might, and moved to tears in Tokyo 2016.”

Evoking an emotional response from the IOC members was of paramount importance. Dr Kono told IOC members: “The most important legacy is for the next generation which is in their heart.” After the presentation, he told the media: “The reaction from the IOC members was very positive. There was a very warm feeling towards us. We saw the emotion in the eyes of the IOC members.”

Strong sentiment was plain to see on the face of Tokyo 2016 executive board member Ms Mikako Kotani, who told Host City: “I am now having a hard time trying to come down, because there was such strong team work; we have spent so much time together. I am realising how great it is to get involved together in one dream. I know this passion of ours will go through to all the IOC members.”

Perfect pitch
Despite Brazil’s reputation for putting passion first, Rio’s presentation was delivered with control. First came reassurances that finances and public safety would be secured. Then, the qualities of the planned Olympic clusters were drilled home in technical detail.

Rio began to show its more emotive side when the beautiful Olympic sailor Isabel Swan was called upon to convey what makes her hometown an ideal location for athletes. “This beautiful bay is really my home. It’s where I learned to sail. It’s a special place to train, with the beaches, the mountains and most of all the people and our passion for sport.” As she started to cry, Rogge presented her with a handkerchief.

President Lula tuned the heartstrings further. While his speech was based on the decisive fact that hosting the Games in Rio would open up a new continent to the Olympic Movement, it started with a direct appeal to the IOC’s sentiments. “We are carrying the hopes and dreams of more than 190 million Brazilians, who are watching your decision today on big screens on our beaches and on small television sets along the banks of the Amazon River.”

Rio’s timing was perfect. The passion gradually mounted throughout the presentation, without going overboard. In the press conference that followed, Pelé held back his tears, saying: “I am a great cry baby. I’m going to stop talking otherwise I will cry.”

Death, God and the feeling in Raul’s bones
Next, Madrid’s presentation packed a weighty emotional punch, reaching a peak with an extraordinary appeal from former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, after which he clutched Rogge tightly by the elbow and walked with him across the stage.

Samaranch said: “My age has allowed me to see many exciting moments during our organisation. I know that I am very near the end of my time. May I ask you to consider presenting my country the honour and also the duty of organising the Games and Paralympic Games in 2016?”

Following their presentation, the Spanish team were in high spirits. The National Olympic Committee president, Alejandro Blanco said: “I’m very happy and hopeful. My heart tells me we’ll make it to the finals; the rest is up to God.”

The swimmer Teresa Perales spoke of “tears of joy” on the faces of the IOC members. And Real Madrid captain, Raul Gonzalez said: “We have the best bid and we have done it with lots of love. Let’s hope this feeling in our bones that we’ve had becomes a reality.”

The longest hour
The hour that followed the announcement of the results of the second round of voting was purgatory – especially for delegates from Madrid and Rio. As a rumble of Latin rhythms and chanting emanated from the access control area, one member of Rio de Janeiro’s official delegation told Host City: “I am feeling very tense now. I’m feeling more hopeful than before, because Chicago and Tokyo were very strong projects from strong countries. Now we have an hour, after which the hurt will stop. Our hearts have stopped until six thirty.”

Meanwhile, a radio journalist from Madrid told Host City: “I’m sure the bid team are feeling really nervous right now. I saw the Mayor of Madrid and President Zapatero and they were so confident all the way through that they would win. But of course they must be nervous, as they have been working so hard for so many years and it is so close. It’s a very exciting moment.”

At last, the “chairman of the scrutineers”, Thomas Bach gives an envelope to a young female Danish athlete, which she presents to Rogge on a china plate. He tears the envelope open right in front of the microphone, cutting through the tense silence.

It’s Rio! The whole building goes crazy. Ecstatic Brazilians wave flags and kiss giant plasma screens. Pelé cries, and the rest of the bid team follow like dominoes.

“The key of today”
The press conference that followed was cathartic – particularly for President Lula, who broke down in tears and mopped his eyes with a handkerchief, prompting bid secretary general, Carlos Nuzman to say to him: “I knew the key of today. Let me tell you a secret. Your sensitivity is much longer than anybody in this world.”

President Lula explained: “I have met so many personalities and been to so many events I thought I wouldn’t get emotional. Thanks to Jacques Rogge – but he never laughs! The role of the president is that we cannot laugh. I believe I cried now because I didn’t have the courage to cry during the presentation.”

Lula’s reaction – and indeed his life – expresses the achievements of Brazil’s struggle for national development. “I never received a degree. The only gift I got was a broken bicycle that I had to pay for myself. Rio has suffered a long time. It has headlines for crime – we want good news. We have youth that for decades had no opportunity. We are giving them a much more extraordinary future than the one we received from our parents.”

Throughout the campaign, Rio’s passion reached out to the rest of the world. “A big hug to all of you,” Lula told the press. The same to you too, Rio – and Chicago, Tokyo, Madrid or any other city that plans to embark on the emotional rollercoaster of bidding for a major sports event. You are going to need it.