Probably not, but Pakistan’s member of the International Olympic Committee certainly wasn’t going to let President Obama have his moment of glory as he made Chicago’s presentation in its bid to host the 2016 Olympics. The Times tells the story:

Responding to a question by Syed Shahid Ali, the IOC member for Pakistan, about the “pretty harrowing experience” of many foreign visitors to the US, he said: “One of the legacies I want to see coming out of 2016 is a reminder that America, at its best, is open to the world. We are putting the full force of the White House and the State Department into making sure that not only is this a successful Games but that visitors from all around the world feel welcome and will come away with a sense of the incredible diversity of the American people.”

Ali’s statement served as a reminder that the US, no matter how popular its president may be, is no longer seen as hospitable to foreigners, particularly Muslims, and no matter how many platitudes Obama recited in Copenhagen, US xenophobia may have contributed to Rio de Janeiro’s win.

Having studied in the suburbs of Chicago for three years, I was certainly rooting for the Windy City, but an American loss does have its upsides. For one, there was the reaction of the US media.

CNN didn’t quite expect Chicago to be knocked out in the first round of voting and showed its surprise:

And then there were the right-wing blogs which, perhaps for the first time in their existence, were rooting against America. I guess it’s okay to be an America-hater if the president happens to be liberal and African-American.

Erick Erikson at Red State had this to say:

Hahahahaha.

I thought the world would love us more now that Bush was gone.

I thought if we whored ourselves out to our enemies, great things would happen.

Apparently not.

So Obama’s pimped us to every two bit thug and dictator in the world, made promises to half the Olympic committee, and they did not even kiss him.

So much for improving America’s standing in the world, Barry O.

Maybe now perhaps we can hope he will mature a bit on the issues of foreign affairs. But I doubt it.

Jonah Goldberg at National Review preferred to take the sarcastic route:

Frankly I am stunned that all my colleagues can do is score cheap political points against Obama’s failed effort to win the Olympics for the United States. Where is the outrage at the IOC’s transparent racism?

Before Rio in 2016, though, London has to put on a show in 2012. There are worries that London’s stadia and transport system will not be ready for the spectacle. But the world need not worry. All London needs to do is present its irresistible mayor Boris Johnson at every possible moment. Just check out his shambling, rambling speech at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.