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John Daley ReportingLondon wins the gold and Paris, along with New York, Madrid and Moscow, can only try again. Today the International Olympic Committee selected London as the host of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Of all the cities on the planet, Utah's Olympic city can perhaps best relate to the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory, and the fun of lighting the cauldron. For Anglophiles today it was hip-hip hooray, but for the French and their friends it was "sacre bleu!" For Utahns it all seems so familiar, so deja-vu-ish.
The French were a mixture of upset and angry. The Brits went wild in a scene reminiscent of when Utah won the 2002 Games after losing in bitter defeat the previous time. At the British Pantry in Salt Lake the store's manager was beyond pleased.
Mandy Easter: "I am absolutely thrilled. You know to be here in Salt Lake and we got the Olympics here and then for England to get it too. You know I've got the best of both worlds so."
It's been a good summer for Mandy Easter, a native of Liverpool. First her home soccer squad won the European Cup, now the Olympics. Her colleague Abu Kissi also lived in England. He takes exception to recent remarks from French President Jacques Chirac, criticizing the quality of English food.
Abu Kissi: "Those are fighting words, but I guess he's going to eat his words. This will prove to the French that the Brits have always had the upper hand."
At this French pastry shop called the Bakery, a pair of native Frenchmen say they aren't too upset, after all, they've got the Tour de France and hosted the 98 World Cup.
Jean-Jacques Grossi: "It was a surprise. But I'm glad for the English. And wherever it is, the Olympics, they always put up a good games anyway."
Jean Grunberger: "Everybody has a chance to make a project. And if they have it, they are happy and if they don't they are disappointed."
Back at the pantry Mandy Easter happily gives us a tour de food, showing off what the world will enjoy in 2012.
Mandy Easter: "Being that we've raised some of the finest soccer players in the world, so obviously our food can't be that bad, they're surviving on it."
No word on whether Paris or New York or the other cities will try again. In the past the IOC has tended to reward persistence and Salt Lake City was one example, losing for the 1998 Games then winning the 2002 bid.
