Chicago, Madrid, Rio & Tokyo wait for the results of the 2016 Olympic Games Bid

Representatives of the four cities campaigning to host the 2016 Olympic Games — Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo— are were out in force during the 2008 Games, promoting their respective candidacies. Generally speaking, they're prohibited from commenting on or criticizing each other or the current host. So its been something of a lovefest -- even as reps of aspiring host cities highlight their own advantages and try to address the lessons learned from Beijing. "The Chinese people have done alot for us to learn from," was how Chicago 2016 Chairman-CEO Pat Ryan introduced his city's initiatives at Saturday's 2016 Bid City press conference on the Olympic Green (sponsored by McDonald's). Carlos Nuzman, President of Rio 2016, stressed that his team would "look at Beijing as a model for what they've done, and then consider how we can best address these questions for our city."


While criticism has been muted, there's no escaping the fact that the 2008 Games have been the most controversy-wracked Olympics in a long time. As they draw to a close, you can read between the lines of what the 2016 crowd is saying to discern the types of headaches they're resolving to avoid. Recently Madrid launched a promotional campaign suggesting it'll open its arms to all ethnic groups ("Whoever you are, from wherever you are, how you are. Welcome.") which could be read as an oblique comment on China's much-criticized handling of Tibetan riots which erupted in March. Asked about the evident analogy, Spanish IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch -- a close friend of Chinese leaders -- told the Associated Press that the ads are "certainly not a reaction to Beijing."

Still, a long-running history of violence by Basque separatists is seen as one of Madrid's weakest points. Faced with internal regional divisions and an influx of immigrants, the Spanish government clearly hopes to promote an open-minded and multi-cultural image. And, of course, to signal a departure from the way Beijing handled the Tibet issue, which triggered such intense protests during the Olympic torch relay through London, Paris and San Francisco that they threatened to tarnish the Olympics brand itself.

In terms of stunning venues, modern infrastructure and related hardware, Beijing's a hard act to follow. But a look at the 2016 pitches reveals other ways in which wanna-be Olympic hosts hope to bring the Summer Games eight years from now cleaner air, shorter commutes and more fun:

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1) Environment, especially air quality, is instrumental for any city hoping to get the IOC's nod for 2016. Madrid claims one of the lowest pollution levels by European standards, as well as "sustainable transport" for those commuting between venues, says Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon. The city's existing metro system will be the primary mode of transport, but if buses must be used, they will be electricity-powered. Rio de Janeiro intends to implement the model rapid-transit system developed in the Brazilian city of Curitiba. A quarter of Tokyo's 2016 initiatives focuses on environmental issues -- a five-foot-tall digital globe highlighting areas suffering from high levels of global warming is featured at the Beijing-based Japan House, which looks after Japanese nationals in town for the Olympics.

2) Future hosts say they'll strive for shorter transport times and tighter venue clusters -- in contrast to sprawling Beijing and its far-flung Olympic sites which demand lengthy commutes. Tokyo vows that 95 percent of all athletic facilities would be located within an eight-kilometer radius. Madrid promises a maximum 10-minute car ride between two clusters of competition sites. Chicago would base the Athlete's Village and Olympic Green in Washington Park and the near South Side so that athletes could walk no more than 15 minutes to reach nine-tenths of their competitions.

3) 2016 should be more fun. Chicago's "compact Games" also envisage that Olympic-related activities would be located in an "entertainment city", which places a premium on the enjoyment of the athletes. For 2016, "it's all about the athlete," explained Pat Sandusky, VP of Communications for Chicago. "They will get to enjoy the city, in the heart of the city." To support their bid, representatives of Rio's 2016 bid pointed to the energy of the fans inspiring athletes during the 2007 Pan-American Games, held in their "Marvelous City". Meanwhile Dr. Ichiro Kono, Chairman and CEO for Tokyo 2016, said he "enjoyed the size [of Beijing] very much—but in our plan, athletes can enjoy their travels, because they will be in the center of the city."

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Such declarations are a tacit critique of the security-conscious isolation that many athletes and others felt during these Games in terms of, well, simply meeting ordinary Chinese. Beijing's jitters led to such tight restrictions -- especially after a U.S. coach's relative was killed by a lone Chinese assailant -- that most grassroots citizens were barred from the Olympic Green, which in past Games has been open to the partying public. Though undoubtedly more secure, visitors feel out of touch. So in 2016, fun is consciously on the agenda -- and not just for athletes. Chicago highlights its reputation as a festival city. Rio points to its annual Carnaval celebration. And Madrid now hails its boisterous "Latin" culture -- despite years of discrimination against South American immigrants -- as a gauge of the spirit that should be affiliated with the Games.

The Olympics provide an opportunity for host cities to invest in infrastructure and social projects. That's one argument for awarding the Games to a developing country, and in this regard Rio is unique among the 2016 contenders. (Seoul, Barcelona and now Beijing are prominent examples of cities that the Olympics helped re-make.) But that also makes it even more important to stress that renovation and construction must be completed on time. Each of the 2016 bidders promise the IOC that all loose ends would be tied up well before the Games. Tokyo is already partway through a 10-year revitalization project, due for completion in the summer of 2016. Rio claims it'll be ready by 2014, when it's slated to host the World Cup. Madrid's metro already stops at all but one of the wanna-be Olympic venues. And Chicago says it's almost ready right now, with little need to build new facilities other than temporary archery fields.

2016 Bid City representatives were unanimous in their congratulations to Beijing in one particular regard: the energy and ubiquity of China's young Olympic volunteers. (Then again, it probably helped Beijing to have a ruling party accustomed to mass mobilization exercises -- and to have more than 1.3 billion people to mobilize.) Rio sees the Games as a unique chance to encourage more youth to experience the Olympic spirit and participate in sport. "[It's] very important to work closely with volunteers, and to bring the same atmosphere to the Games in Tokyo," said Masanori Takaya, International Communications Manager of Tokyo 2016.

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He pointed to the "Cutting Edge Technology" booth at the Tokyo House, where foot-tall robots were engaged in various physical tasks such as exercise pull-ups and picking up objects. His colleagues are working on integrating such toys to aid the 2016 Games, he said. Technology will be part of the answer for helping make 2016 a success, no question about it. But another part will be more opportunities for the Olympic family to party with just plain ordinary folk.