© 2026 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
DONATE
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Why Do Cities Keep Vying To Host The Olympics?

NPR | By Frank Deford
Published May 4, 2016 at 4:32 AM EDT
Brazilian Olympic Committee president Carlos Nuzman shows the lantern containing the Olympic flame brought from Greece as he gets off the plane in Brasilia on May 3. The three-month torch relay across Brazil will end at the opening ceremony on Aug. 5 at Maracana stadium in Rio.
Brazilian Olympic Committee president Carlos Nuzman shows the lantern containing the Olympic flame brought from Greece as he gets off the plane in Brasilia on May 3. The three-month torch relay across Brazil will end at the opening ceremony on Aug. 5 at Maracana stadium in Rio.

On Thursday, it'll be three months till the Olympics begin. Usually, there'd be a panic by now that construction was way behind schedule, but, incredibly, only a couple of major projects remain incomplete in Rio.

No, rather the question remains how much can go haywire during the games to distract us from our enchanting presidential campaign.

Click the audio to hear Frank Deford's take on this issue.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Frank Deford
Frank Deford died on Sunday, May 28, at his home in Florida. Remembrances of Frank's life and work can be found in All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and on NPR.org.
See stories by Frank Deford
Sustain What Matters. Build What’s Next.
With federal funding eliminated, WKAR relies more than ever on community support to sustain essential services that remain freely available to everyone in mid-Michigan. Your support helps shape what comes next for public media in our region. The best way to support WKAR is by becoming a sustaining member today or by upgrading your current gift. Support WKAR TV Here | Support WKAR Radio Here.