2016 Olympics: Did Derrion Albert Beating Footage Kill Chicago's Dream?
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) Chicago's 2016 Olympic dreams were dashed today. The city was eliminated Friday in the first round of voting by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Several hours later, the IOC pronounced Rio de Janeiro, Brazil the winner.
Photos: Derrion Albert Beating Death Video
But Chicago's rapid elimination despite a personal push by the uber-charismatic President Obama, has left Crimesider wondering if IOC members had seen images of the brutal beating death of Chicago honor student Albert Derrion and if the carnality of the 16-year-old's slaying may have played a role in their decision.
There is no way to know, of course, what exactly the IOC saw, but much of America has already seen pieces of an uncut cell phone video which showed teens viciously beating Derrion with splintered railroad ties, hands and feet. Derrion did not survive the attack.
It's with that backdrop that President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama went to Copenhagen earlier this week with the goal of impressing the International Olympic Committee members that Chicago was the right place to bring the 2016 Olympics.
Clearly it didn't work.
Photos: Derrion Albert Beating Death Video
On Wednesday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the video was "chilling" and that the topic came up at one of President Barack Obama's morning meetings in the Oval Office.
"This is not just a Chicago-specific problem," Gibbs said. "Obviously, youth crime and gang violence are something that this administration takes seriously. And we'll have more on that soon."
Friday afternoon, IOC officials pronounced Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, one of the most crime-ridden cities in the world, the winner.
Photos: Derrion Albert Beating Death Video
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