As a Torontonian, I am glad we lost the Olympic bids for 2008 and 1996.
We can't even repair our horrible roads which are everywhere in the city. Our subways are dirty. Speaking of subways, they're antiquated, noisy sardine cans. The city's tranportation system has not been updated and modernized in years! Just a few points here ..... also, the city is overly congested.
Vancouver Olympics was way more popular than the Beijing olympics. I say that because I have never seen a country (Canada) come together as a nation and basically cheered with pride.
People, people... so so so bitter these days... Was that Tianmen square mention really necesarry? No one like a sore looser. Beijing did a wonderful job, Toronoto... well, better luck next time.
It all works in Toronto's favour, the next bid they make the IOC will have to give it to them. They lost in 1996 and 2008...third times a charm. I just hope the games don't bring misery to the city afterwards like it did to Montreal. That city literally went bankrupt and hasn't recovered to this day, infact Calgary is just about poised to become Canada's 2nd city after Toronto in terms of economic importance.
Just like Canada, the people of China needs something to cheer for. Honestly, I think people forget the Olympics are more then just the government trying to boost tourism, it gives an excuse for the citizens to wave their flag proudly for their country. The 2010 Olympics gave Canadians an excuse to be proud to be Canadians. It's the exact same feeling people get when their city is chosen. The citizens of China get a chance to wave their flag proudly and celebrate with each other.
I think part of what the IOC were thinking was How Vancouver's bid was the best in it's field and on the whole stronger than toronto's and the chances are they'd have to choose 1.
Outsiders like us should not have a say to what is happening in China other than the ppl there themselves. I've travelled there recently and most of them say the Government of China has changed lifestyle of many millions in the Country so for us saying there hasn't been any changes after awarding the games to China; this is just bullshit. Then of course, they still don't have a right to vote but it will take more time than just awarding the games. Time will tell... so stop bashing them. OMG!
Show some spirit Canadians! Stop being bitter and take it like a proud stand up Canadian. Stop dwelling about the loss and the past. Afterall, Canadians did a great job in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Think about it; are Canadians that good in Summer Olympics rather than China? I don't think so!
I wanted the summer games in Toronto so bad (I'm an hour from Toronto). This had to happen on my birthday, Friday the 13th. All that gold in Vancouver made up for this day
Toronto would host the 2015 Pan American Games. This could be a chance for it to win its bid for the Olympics... Rio de Janeiro, Brazil did host the Pan Ams in 2007, then two years later, they won the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympics... Although Canada hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, let's wait and see what'll happen for bids of the 2020 or 2024 Summer Olympics!
"the game could be a boost for Chinese economy"...now that seems totally an understatement. Look at China now! Beijing has set a new standard for Summer games. And China's economy has doubled since then...
I beleive It is kind of stupid to not award Toronto the distinction of being the host city of the summer olympics. I think it was the SARS outbreak which may have contributed to Toronto losing the bid, Yet they awarded beijing as the host city. Beijing is the capital of the country where SARS originated from.
Then IOC President Juan Sammaranch pressured his colleagues to elect Beijing as the host city, thinking it could change China for the greater good. This happened in July 2001...the SARS crisis didn't happen until 2003. SARS came and went, five years later it obviously didn't affect the 2008 Games.
@vancouverite1989 One should also think about the potential of China boycotting future Olympics if they hadn't won. They would have been very sore losers and would have likely had boycotted the 2008 Games if it went to Toronto or even the 2004 Games in Athens.
They supposedly threatened to boycott 1996 if they didn't win 2000, but that never eventuated, I guess it might have logically harmed any potential future bids.
I think it was Lastman and his comment that lost it for TO. It was like throwing a hand grenade on the whole bid process. When that story broke I knew it was all over.
@johnh23 Lastman was irrelevant. As long as Beijing was in the race, no city stood stand a chance. Beijing had over twice as many votes as Toronto did and over three times as many as Paris. And look at the result. The most lavish and expensive Olympics in history. The Olympic Committee knew exactly what it wanted and nothing Mayor Mel said or did mattered a bit.
@Fibr3Optix I know...Beijing ultimately had a good games but the whole bid process smacked of conspiracy. I'm glad that Toronto's loss, at least, was Vancouver's gain.
Toronto should re-bid for 2020 or 2024. They'll get their summer games one day.
Ya I'm glad Vancouver got the games. They did a great job. Winter suits Canada more. Plus do I really have to say it.......Hockey...... GOLD BABY WOOO HOOOOO!!!!
The Summer Olympics may have their greater glory and pageantry over the Winter Olympics, but I guarantee you Canadians won't be anywhere as pumped for a Toronto Olympics than a Winter Olympics where you've got sports we're interested in (and also good in)...above all, hockey!
@vancouverite1989 Not pumped for the Summer Olympics? The Summer Olympics are bigger and more important. They feature twice are more countries and is viewed by a much LARGER audience. Of course Canadians would pay attention to it, that's a ridiculous comment.
Or how about the fact that Vancouver won on its own merit as well? The fact that a well-known metropolitan city of 2.3-million people was going up against a South Korean resort of just 50,000 and Salzburg, Austria with 150,000.
Beijing was not robbed, there was no scandal for the 1996 Olympics which went to Atlanta. You are referring to Salt Lake 2002, Winter Games. Beijing's previous bid was for 2000, meaning the host city was chosen in 1993...Tiananmen massacre was in 1989.
@Fibr3Optix You were correct in 1993 Beijing lost the 2000 Olympics to Sydney by just two votes because the Sydney Olympic Commitee bribed two African IOC Memembers one from Kenya and the other Uganda $35,000 apiece the night before the final vote.
@WDI2008 What, and the likes of Beijing didn't bribe their way to try and get 2000? I'm sure they must have done something, why Sydney offered free air travel for the games and eventually all bidding cities matched that. So what if you add a further $70,000 on top of the millions proposed in air travel expenses?
2 IOC members bribed pales in comparison to the odd 90 or so voting. What would have happened if the 2 bribed members didn't get the games for Sydney? What then?
@Fibr3Optix What bribe scandal? You implying that Sydney bribed it's way to get the 2000 games? I would think Beijing lost the 2000 bid mostly due to their arrogance, human rights record and claims (which thankfully never eventuated, or else they would have never won) that they would boycott 1996 if they didn't win.
Vancouver was mostly the best bid for 2010. Salzburg relied on a sliding venue in Germany whilst PyeongChang was a first attempt with little experience from South Korea.
@LordDavid04 but pyeongchang should have gotten the 2014 olympics... too bad, putin is so intimidating that even some members of the IOC was pressured on giving it to sochi... but no worries, pyeongchang got 2018...
@scorpioninpink Pyeongchang got 2018 as a compromise (with a little nagging). Clearly the IOC was impressed with Sochi's plan (during the Candidate stage, as this was different from their Applicant stage). After all, this wasn't really Sochi's first bid (they bid for 2002 and 1998 I believe, not becoming candidates, possibly just filing in their applications to the IOC). One should also note that Russia is a powerhouse in the Olympics, they were bound to get the games in time.
i live in toronto, how could we possibly host the olympic games? we can barely fix the potholes on our streets.
cocochanelbabe 2 months ago
As a Torontonian, I am glad we lost the Olympic bids for 2008 and 1996.
We can't even repair our horrible roads which are everywhere in the city. Our subways are dirty. Speaking of subways, they're antiquated, noisy sardine cans. The city's tranportation system has not been updated and modernized in years! Just a few points here ..... also, the city is overly congested.
Screw the Olympics! Keep them out of TO.
cheeriosinabowl 3 months ago
maybe next time Toronto :)
Herb615 7 months ago
Vancouver Olympics was way more popular than the Beijing olympics. I say that because I have never seen a country (Canada) come together as a nation and basically cheered with pride.
yujinaji 8 months ago
Toronto 2020!!!
password45671 8 months ago
People, people... so so so bitter these days... Was that Tianmen square mention really necesarry? No one like a sore looser. Beijing did a wonderful job, Toronoto... well, better luck next time.
EvergreenSelena 9 months ago
It all works in Toronto's favour, the next bid they make the IOC will have to give it to them. They lost in 1996 and 2008...third times a charm. I just hope the games don't bring misery to the city afterwards like it did to Montreal. That city literally went bankrupt and hasn't recovered to this day, infact Calgary is just about poised to become Canada's 2nd city after Toronto in terms of economic importance.
oichakdeyphatay 9 months ago
Ahh well. We will win the 2020 Olympics. :-|
vistarox 1 year ago
HAHA SUCK IT TORONTO ONCE A LOSER"S CITY ALWAYS A LOSER"S CITY !!!!
mixmaster66666 1 year ago
@mixmaster66666
1000% agreed!
TheCanada619 1 year ago
Just like Canada, the people of China needs something to cheer for. Honestly, I think people forget the Olympics are more then just the government trying to boost tourism, it gives an excuse for the citizens to wave their flag proudly for their country. The 2010 Olympics gave Canadians an excuse to be proud to be Canadians. It's the exact same feeling people get when their city is chosen. The citizens of China get a chance to wave their flag proudly and celebrate with each other.
Dragonstar13 1 year ago
I think part of what the IOC were thinking was How Vancouver's bid was the best in it's field and on the whole stronger than toronto's and the chances are they'd have to choose 1.
AlexHWalker 1 year ago
Let's pray of next time for 2024
Herb615 1 year ago
Outsiders like us should not have a say to what is happening in China other than the ppl there themselves. I've travelled there recently and most of them say the Government of China has changed lifestyle of many millions in the Country so for us saying there hasn't been any changes after awarding the games to China; this is just bullshit. Then of course, they still don't have a right to vote but it will take more time than just awarding the games. Time will tell... so stop bashing them. OMG!
rlai2201 1 year ago
Show some spirit Canadians! Stop being bitter and take it like a proud stand up Canadian. Stop dwelling about the loss and the past. Afterall, Canadians did a great job in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Think about it; are Canadians that good in Summer Olympics rather than China? I don't think so!
rlai2201 1 year ago
I wanted the summer games in Toronto so bad (I'm an hour from Toronto). This had to happen on my birthday, Friday the 13th. All that gold in Vancouver made up for this day
jbfraser 1 year ago
Toronto was fucking robbed!!
Herb615 1 year ago
and china hasn't changed from 2001-2010. yeah, sure they're an economic super power, but their stance on human rights still remains unchanged.
lexlib 1 year ago
@lexlib
That's the thing, the IOC thought they could change China for the greater good (human rights and all). Of course, it never materialized.
vancouverite1989 1 year ago
@vancouverite1989 get over it!
rlai2201 1 year ago
Toronto would host the 2015 Pan American Games. This could be a chance for it to win its bid for the Olympics... Rio de Janeiro, Brazil did host the Pan Ams in 2007, then two years later, they won the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympics... Although Canada hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, let's wait and see what'll happen for bids of the 2020 or 2024 Summer Olympics!
aric2007 1 year ago 2
"the game could be a boost for Chinese economy"...now that seems totally an understatement. Look at China now! Beijing has set a new standard for Summer games. And China's economy has doubled since then...
bushangels 1 year ago
I beleive It is kind of stupid to not award Toronto the distinction of being the host city of the summer olympics. I think it was the SARS outbreak which may have contributed to Toronto losing the bid, Yet they awarded beijing as the host city. Beijing is the capital of the country where SARS originated from.
imperatorcaesar100 2 years ago
Then IOC President Juan Sammaranch pressured his colleagues to elect Beijing as the host city, thinking it could change China for the greater good. This happened in July 2001...the SARS crisis didn't happen until 2003. SARS came and went, five years later it obviously didn't affect the 2008 Games.
vancouverite1989 2 years ago 9
@vancouverite1989 One should also think about the potential of China boycotting future Olympics if they hadn't won. They would have been very sore losers and would have likely had boycotted the 2008 Games if it went to Toronto or even the 2004 Games in Athens.
They supposedly threatened to boycott 1996 if they didn't win 2000, but that never eventuated, I guess it might have logically harmed any potential future bids.
LordDavid04 8 months ago
I think it was Lastman and his comment that lost it for TO. It was like throwing a hand grenade on the whole bid process. When that story broke I knew it was all over.
johnh23 1 year ago
@johnh23 Lastman was irrelevant. As long as Beijing was in the race, no city stood stand a chance. Beijing had over twice as many votes as Toronto did and over three times as many as Paris. And look at the result. The most lavish and expensive Olympics in history. The Olympic Committee knew exactly what it wanted and nothing Mayor Mel said or did mattered a bit.
nosuchpersonvideo 1 year ago
Beijing won because they were robbed hosting years earlier due to an Olympic bribe scandal. If it wasn't for that Toronto would have won the games.
In a show of "Sorry Canada" The IOC gave the winter games to Vancouver.
Fibr3Optix 2 years ago 6
@Fibr3Optix I know...Beijing ultimately had a good games but the whole bid process smacked of conspiracy. I'm glad that Toronto's loss, at least, was Vancouver's gain.
Toronto should re-bid for 2020 or 2024. They'll get their summer games one day.
timtwoface 2 years ago
Ya I'm glad Vancouver got the games. They did a great job. Winter suits Canada more. Plus do I really have to say it.......Hockey...... GOLD BABY WOOO HOOOOO!!!!
Epic.
Fibr3Optix 2 years ago
@Fibr3Optix but the 2010 olympics were epic
HelloWorld492 1 year ago
@HelloWorld492
The Summer Olympics may have their greater glory and pageantry over the Winter Olympics, but I guarantee you Canadians won't be anywhere as pumped for a Toronto Olympics than a Winter Olympics where you've got sports we're interested in (and also good in)...above all, hockey!
vancouverite1989 1 year ago
@vancouverite1989 Not pumped for the Summer Olympics? The Summer Olympics are bigger and more important. They feature twice are more countries and is viewed by a much LARGER audience. Of course Canadians would pay attention to it, that's a ridiculous comment.
oichakdeyphatay 9 months ago
@Fibr3Optix
Or how about the fact that Vancouver won on its own merit as well? The fact that a well-known metropolitan city of 2.3-million people was going up against a South Korean resort of just 50,000 and Salzburg, Austria with 150,000.
Beijing was not robbed, there was no scandal for the 1996 Olympics which went to Atlanta. You are referring to Salt Lake 2002, Winter Games. Beijing's previous bid was for 2000, meaning the host city was chosen in 1993...Tiananmen massacre was in 1989.
vancouverite1989 1 year ago
@vancouverite1989 Actully Sydney did bribe two African IOC Memebers $35,000 a piece the night before the final vote in Monaco
WDI2008 9 months ago
@Fibr3Optix You were correct in 1993 Beijing lost the 2000 Olympics to Sydney by just two votes because the Sydney Olympic Commitee bribed two African IOC Memembers one from Kenya and the other Uganda $35,000 apiece the night before the final vote.
WDI2008 9 months ago
@WDI2008 What, and the likes of Beijing didn't bribe their way to try and get 2000? I'm sure they must have done something, why Sydney offered free air travel for the games and eventually all bidding cities matched that. So what if you add a further $70,000 on top of the millions proposed in air travel expenses?
2 IOC members bribed pales in comparison to the odd 90 or so voting. What would have happened if the 2 bribed members didn't get the games for Sydney? What then?
LordDavid04 8 months ago
@Fibr3Optix What bribe scandal? You implying that Sydney bribed it's way to get the 2000 games? I would think Beijing lost the 2000 bid mostly due to their arrogance, human rights record and claims (which thankfully never eventuated, or else they would have never won) that they would boycott 1996 if they didn't win.
Vancouver was mostly the best bid for 2010. Salzburg relied on a sliding venue in Germany whilst PyeongChang was a first attempt with little experience from South Korea.
LordDavid04 8 months ago
@LordDavid04 Since when is Salzburg in Germany?
catrachocolo 8 months ago
@catrachocolo Salzburg is in Austria. But it relied on Konigsee, located in Germany for it's 2010 and 2014 bids.
LordDavid04 7 months ago
@LordDavid04 but pyeongchang should have gotten the 2014 olympics... too bad, putin is so intimidating that even some members of the IOC was pressured on giving it to sochi... but no worries, pyeongchang got 2018...
scorpioninpink 4 months ago
@scorpioninpink Pyeongchang got 2018 as a compromise (with a little nagging). Clearly the IOC was impressed with Sochi's plan (during the Candidate stage, as this was different from their Applicant stage). After all, this wasn't really Sochi's first bid (they bid for 2002 and 1998 I believe, not becoming candidates, possibly just filing in their applications to the IOC). One should also note that Russia is a powerhouse in the Olympics, they were bound to get the games in time.
LordDavid04 4 months ago
@scorpioninpink Should have but didn't. The IOC was clearly swayed by both Putin's stirring speech and more importantly the unique bid plan.
LordDavid04 4 months ago