We're competing against other great cities: Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo. That's why it's important that we all join together on the final path to Copenhagen. Having the support of President Obama is key.
- Richard M. Daley
What Richard M. Daley could not have foreseen at the time of his citation was that he was up against forces far more forceful than simply other great cities. A day after Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey descended upon the Danish capital, Lone arrived in her moderland in ample time to impact the outcome of the selection of the 2016 Summer Olympic host-city race. Beyond her many obvious charms, Lone brought with her a rare 100% success rate in Summer Olympic city selections, having been in UK in 2005 when the momentous, and unexpected, decision was taken to award London the 2012 Summer Games ahead of the then-frontrunner, Paris.
It is true that Brazil had sent its ridiculously popular President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, to Copenhagen, but Lone's influence extends to the recesses of Europe's oldest monarchy. Her brother, Jan Blichert-Hansen (far left), a frequent guest to Brazil, is afdelingsleder (Department Head) of the Kongelige Repræsentationslokaler (Royal Reception Rooms) at Christiansborg Palace. In addition to hobnobbing with the Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II (Margrethe Alexandrine Þorhildur Ingrid), on a regular basis, Jan is intimately involved in managing significant portions of most official visits as well as being responsible for all visits to the Queen's tapestries, one of the most popular exhibits in Denmark. As one Lilliputian example of Jan's Brobdingnagian influence, the Fazenda Alfheim blog has been given an international exclusive: a photo of the tea cup that Michelle Obama drank from during her recent, fruitless, visit. As if such a happening were not already sufficient to make me forget hogs for a week, Jan also provided us with two additional insider photos, both taken by Keld Navntoft Sørensen, of America's stunning First Lady. In the first photo, Michelle is seen with Margrethe II, while in the second she is together with Frederik Crown Prince of Denmark (to Michelle's left), his wife, Mary Donaldson (to Michelle's right), and the Queen's husband, Henri de Laborde de Monpézat (far right with gold tie).
Unfortunately for Chicago, the outcome was sealed as soon as Lone landed…even Oprah was helpless to alter the decision. In the end, the Marvelous City was awarded the 2016 Summer Olympics. Coming as it will on top of Brazil's ascension to its almost certain ranking as the world's fifth largest economy (and seventh or eighth leading oil producer), and Brazil's staging of the 2014 World Cup, the first time Brazil will host the tournament since 1950, it would indeed appear as though our adopted homeland is poised for a most compelling decade.
5 comments:
sweet blog!!! Go Lone. I think you have a future as a political analyst dad :)
LOL Hilarious! This blog tops the BBC and CNN any day. :-)
...and people think I am just vacationing! Lots of hard work going on in between delicious meals and much cake and wine
Nice picture of the prince of Denmark making an attempt to thump his wife the queen on the head....poor guy, obviously still wants to be a king.
Go mom, I agree with dad that you where the turning point in the vote :-)... congrats Brasil!
hugs and love
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