The Summer Olympics in 2012 are to be held in London, not Paris:
With a Gallic shrug, a stunned Paris – long considered the favourite – tried to make a graceful recovery.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin congratulated London and promised the French to go ahead with the construction of Olympic venues, from a pool to a cycling stadium.
‘I want to salute the city of London which will welcome the Olympic Games in 2012,’ Villepin said hours after the IOC announced its choice in Singapore. ‘I wish it good luck.’
Not everyone in the crowd at City Hall was as magnanimous. Silence fell over the gathering as big screens announced the choice of London after hours of suspense – and years of waiting. Boos rang out when Deputy Mayor Anne Hidalgo wished London luck.
One can’t help but think that French President Jacques Chirac’s haughty arrogance in recent weeks didn’t turn heads. There’s a reason why they call it “gall” (Gaul?) I guess. . .
Okay, so I’m not the only one with bad jokes. But after Iraq, the EU Constitution, British beef, Finnish food, and now the Olympics, for Chirac the hits just keep on comin’.