*SPOILER ALERT*

[underpants]

Part of the IOC decision in picking Rio was clearly TV

Yes it is time for the international community to pay some attention to South America (other than Chavez and people who do trade there) but look at the map above. Brazil is the perfect spot for time slots.

It is 2 hours ahead of the US Eastern time zone. An event in Rio at 8 PM will be on at 6PM for a huge mass of the consumeristic US population.

At 8PM it will be on at midnight to 2 AM in Western Europe

at 8 PM it will be on at 7-9 AM in Asia

No more *SPOILER ALERT*s on the internet and no more delayed broadcasts

To give you an idea-Michael Phelps swam at 8 AM or so for maximum east coast coverage... most swimming/track events are held in the afternoon (1PM)

Going way back-Mike Tyson lost to Buster Douglas in a boxing match in 1990 that started at 6AM in Japan for maximum Pay-per-view selling time slot.

Don't think TV didn't have a HUGE role in this. Nothing negative because the Olympics and the World Cup are events people will lose sleep to watch. The most watched annual sporting event or series is Formula 1 to give you an idea of the power of worldwide viewing.

[Robb]

1. Interesting. I hadn't thought of that.

I just figured, you know, the French did it. Like moving the Lisbon-Dakar to SA in retribution for it no longer starting in Paris. :D

[saracat]

2. Excellent point, but Rio is also just waay cooler than Chicago. I mean seriously, where would you

like to go? Rio sounds so much more fun and exotic.the film will be awesome. The staging will be incredible.

[underpants]

5. Rio made a concerted effort to market itself to US troops on leave from Iraq

I know this because a relative of mine took leave and went to Rio for a week (talk about SHORE LEAVE!!!)

Imagine a young man with lots of money let loose in Rio

[Shell Beau]

3. Leave it to you to be thinking all smart and stuff!

:P

Makes perfect sense.

[underpants]

6. When I heard Rio I knew they had it

The O man should have known that too-but that is another story

South America is noticeably ignored....why I have no idea

the time zone thing is as good as it gets. I think the other perfect time zone would be in LOST territory in the Pacific but that isn't possible.

[stevedeshazer]

4. Good one, smarty-underpants

:)

That's a great observation.