RealGM

http://thestar.blogs.com/circus/2008/08/pound-rocks-chi.html

“Public opinion and political opinion was moving toward an actual boycott of the games, and it was only the earthquake tragedy that diverted attention from what could otherwise have been something very, very serious.”

Tuesday, during an otherwise routine IOC session, he suggested the Beijing Games might have faced political boycotts if not for the goodwill that poured in from around the world after the May earthquake in Sichuan province.

Pretty darn strong words, regarding China being selected as host nations, and also the way the IOC has handled the freedom of speech/media, and torch relays. Prolly one of the most outspoken official IOC members in the last few years. Pound lost to Jacques Rogge for becoming President of IOC in 2001, days after Toronto lost to Beijing.

Dick Pound is a great name.

still p*ssed that t-dot lost the bid

Toronto had the best bid on paper for the 1996, 2000, and 2008. Unfortunately, as always politics and sports collide, and considering all factors include some bridery and lobbying they didnt win. No hating or anyting, thats the way it is, and if u try not to play based on those rules, u come up with the short end.

Toronto will never get the Summer Olympics again, especially considering they got the lesser Olympics with Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Beijing shouldn't have won....

Beijing should have won and they did

Whether Beijin should have won doesn't matter now. They did a damn excellent job putting together the event. London got no chance of matching.

NurbekIL wrote:Whether Beijin should have won doesn't matter now. They did a damn excellent job putting together the event. London got no chance of matching.

+1

I'm admittedly impressed by everything, right down to those crazy, flashing blue-LED lampposts around the Bird's Nest.