Chicago is front-runner in Olympics race: expert
New "power rankings" from a respected Olympic source puts Chicago narrowly ahead of contenders for the 2016 Olympics.
The rankings, by the influential aroundtherings.com, are based on an analysis of plans revealed last week by the seven competing cities and through on-site visits.
Chicago wins "the narrow lead" because of what editor Ed Hula said is a strong infrastructure of hotels and transportation, a city-centered venue plan and an effective marketing scheme.
The winning city will be chosen in October 2009 by the International Olympic Committee -- a notoriously unpredictable and fickle body.
"The best city does not always finish first,'' Hula said.
Still, Chicago scored 79 out of a possible 110 points, followed by Rio de Janiero and Madrid, both with 77 points. Tokyo (74 points); Doha, Qatar (69); Prague (55), and Baku, Azerbaijan (50) round out the field.
Rio, host of 2007's Pan Am Games, is "a bid to watch'' as it angles to become the first Olympics in South America, said Hula, an ex-CNN producer who has covered the Olympics business for about 20 years.
While noting its "grinding poverty,'' Hula said, "For natural beauty, none of the cities can match the dramatic landscape of Rio.''