Chicago Out For Olympics

Chicago was eliminated in the first ballot of voting for the 2016 Olympics on Friday, a stunning defeat for the city that was expected to be one of the two finalists.

Not even the presence of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama — nor a long list of celebrities — was enough to help the United States’ third-largest city.

Chicago had seemed to pick up momentum in the last few days, with many International Olympic Committee members seemingly charmed by Mrs. Obama. But when IOC president Jacques Rogge announced the results of the first vote, Chicago was the city that fell out.

It was one of the biggest upsets in IOC voting history, and will likely have ramifications throughout the U.S. Olympic Committee. USOC chairman Larry Probst was stone-faced as he and acting CEO Stephanie Streeter walked down a hallway.

“Not right now,” he said tersely. “A little later.”

Asked when, Probst said, “When we’ve had a chance to huddle.”

Probst and Streeter then headed to a staging area where the rest of the Chicago 2016 organizers were.

Back in Chicago, an audible gasp went up from the crowd at Daley Plaza when the first-round results were announced. Instead of a victory party, people slowly began filing out of the plaza.