2020 Olympics: Rome, Istanbul, Doha among finalist cities
Starting saving your frequent flyer miles -- the finalist cities for the 2020 Summer Olympics are all from across the Atlantic.
The six finalists who submitted their bids to the International Olympic Committee before Friday's (Sept. 2) deadline are all from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Sorry, Ecuador, no shot put for you.
The finalists are: Rome, Madrid, Tokyo, Istanbul, Doha (in Qatar), and Baku (in Azerbaijan).
All finalist cities are repeat applicants, but only Rome and Tokyo have previously hosted the games.
According to reports, British oddsmakers put Tokyo down as the 2-1 favorite. But we prefer to make our own odds around here.
- Rome: 5-1. 2020 seems a good target for Italy to have finally washed off the dirt and grime left behind by the cast of the "Jersey Shore."
- Madrid: 7-1. If Penelope Cruz refuses to be Olympic mascot, Madrid's chances take a big hit.
- Doha: 25-1. Average July temperature in Doha is 106. AVERAGE. (Which somehow didn't stop Qatar from landing the 2022 World Cup, but still.)
- Baku: 50-1. Most members of the IOC do not know Azerbaijan is a real country; instead, they just think people keep sneezing funny.
- Tokyo: 1000-1. It's a fine city, but we don't like those hoity-toity British oddsmakers telling us what to do.
- Istanbul: 3-1. Athletes will delight in two weeks of singing that "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" song.
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Photo/Video credit: Getty Images
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Recent video
Featured Partners
Nice mention of that song!
Based on the fact that Turkey is about to become a hotbed of political unrest for the West; it's pretty safe that Istanbul is dead last....
Best chance to win would be Madrid, as Tokyo won't get considered since an olympics will already have been held in South Korea in 2018. Rome might get honorable mention but Qatar, if they pressure certain IOC members like they did with FIFA's board to get the 2022 World Cup, might be the wild card here. Istanbul and Baha are not even close to getting them, so stick a fork in them, they're done. My pick: Rome
considering the economical situation in europe and expecting spain and italy bankrupt after greece, same with japan too. Istanbul is the logical choice. an emerging market with exotic sexy place.. best after rio:D
I guess it will come down to Madrid, Tokyo, Istanbul or Doha.
Istanbul and Doha are in emerging markets, so they've got a big chance to be in the final. I'd say Doha has more possibilities though, money comes before climate.
But Madrid is the obvious choice. It will not repeat continent and they've been trying for so long they've already got built most of installations, so they'll only have to update them for the games.
Plus there will be a feeling of make it up for them, as is the only big European capital that has never hosted the games. And that feeling is what got Rio winner.