Well, it’s all over.

Chicago was the first city to be eliminated as a candidate to host the 2016 Olympics by the International Olympic Committee this morning in Copenhagen. Tokyo was eliminated minutes later, and the contest is down to Madrid and Rio de Janeiro has gone to Rio de Janeiro. The result is a disappointment to many, but a relief to many others. People gathered in Daley Plaza to watch the announcement were so shocked that some began blaming Michael Jordan’s lack of enthusiasm. Whatever the IOC’s motives for their decision were (and there are quite a few possibilities), it seems unlikely that all they needed was more star power.