RationalRebel Wrote:What's wrong with Birmingham? Stranger things have happened. Who would have thought Sandusky, OH would have gotten the ill fated 2012 USOC bid?

http://sportspickle.com/features/volume1...-usoc.html

Quote:USOC Surprisingly Awards 2012 Olympic Bid to Sandusky, Ohio

Sandusky, Ohio was surprisingly awarded the U.S. nomination for the 2012 Olympics by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) on Saturday, beating out New York and San Francisco.

Many feel the USOC selected Sandusky as a sacrificial lamb, not wanting to waste the bids of New York or San Francisco when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is said to be looking for a host city in Africa or South America for the 2012 Games.

The industrial town of 30,000 on the shores of Lake Erie was not known to be a finalist before Saturday. When USOC President Milt Runyan made the announcement, gasps filled the room, followed by pronouncements of shock and disbelief by the New York and San Francisco bid teams. Representatives from Sandusky were not at the event, as no one from the town was aware it was a candidate.

“When he said ‘Sandusky, Ohio’ I thought it was a joke,” said New York mayor Michael Bloomberg. “I still think it is some kind of joke.”

Whereas the news left Olympic organizers in New York and San Francisco upset, Sandusky mayor Ed Werzlinski was delighted. “I didn’t know we had put in a bid, but we’ll take it,” Werzlinski said. “I think we have a good chance to bring this thing home for America. Most people don’t know all that Sandusky has to offer.”

As to the claims that Sandusky was chosen because a U.S. city is a longshot for the 2012 Games, Runyan said that is not the case. “We simply feel that Sandusky has the most to offer. However, we would like to make it clear that we want New York and San Francisco to bid again for the 2016 Games. I say again, New York and San Francisco: please bid again for 2016!”

Runyan pointed to Sandusky’s many foundries, plastics and paints plants, automotive parts and metal fabricating factories, and chemical companies as proof that the northern Ohio town is an overlooked world economic power.

“Sandusky may not be all that pretty and it’s true that many of its people may at first appear unintelligent or perhaps unclean, and sure, New York and San Francisco may be full of cultural and historical treasures, but Sandusky has hidden beauties if you only scratch the surface, like the oily splendor of Lake Erie,” said Runyan. “We think the IOC will recognize that.”

He also pointed out that Cedar Point Amusement Park, one of the country’s most popular parks, would be a major draw for international visitors.

Runyan admitted that one negative aspect of Sandusky’s bid was that it would be difficult for Olympic water sports to take place in Lake Erie “without people dying from cancer or having their skin melt off.”

Mayor Werzlinski pointed to other strengths. “We are in the midst of revitalizing our Main Street and we just got a Big Kmart on Route 4.”

In addition, “Motor Boating Magazine” recently named Sandusky as one of the top 10 destinations for boaters.

And both Runyan and Werzlinski noted that the town is just outside of a “cultural triangle” of cities that includes Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit. “No other place in the world can claim such proximity to these jewels of the northern Midwest,” said Werzlinski. “Sandusky is prime real estate.”