Defeated and devastated, France struggled to absorb the news today that despite the overwhelming odds in its favor, it had lost the 2012 Summer Olympics to London.

Bertrand Delanoe, the Socialist mayor of Paris, who more than any other French figure came to symbolize the Paris bid, openly expressed bitterness that in his view, the best city had not won.

"This is a huge disappointment that I cannot explain, to tell you the truth," he said in an interview broadcast on LCI French television from Singapore, where the Olympic Committee made its decision. Adding that he wanted "to play fair and salute London and the Londoners," he still could not hide his feelings that something had gone terribly wrong.

"I had understood that the best bid, the best state of mind was what it was about," he said, adding, "Maybe you need not play fair in order to win a competition fair and square."

I feel bad for them and the other cities that didn't win. I'm happy for London for getting it though. In the end, it'll be another boring Summer Olympics as usual.

I am sure when things got heavy, Delanoe surrendered, like all leaders in French history have done.

Isn't France used to losing by now?

Nah, you just have to not be French.

Rumor is that Chirac was making fun of London by saying something like "the only thing they've added to European farming is Mad Cow disease" and something like "only Finland has worse cuisine"

Two of the voters on the IOC determining the location of the 2012 games are Finnish.

Oops.

They're something like 0-11-1 in recent wars

nah, that never gets old, does it?

this makes me smile.

Personally, I'm really happy my taxes will go to pay for top class sporting facilities 500 miles away in the afluent South East of England that already has better facilities than anywhere else in the country.

Oh alright then, I don't pay tax but if I did....

this should've been titled "France is still French"

That said, was it a cut? Are the Finns otherwise known for their delightful cuisine (in which case Chirac was being an ass)?

The one thing I noticed was the fact that all the prime ministers or presidents of the countries involved made some sort of statement regarding their bids. Where was Bush? I don't believe I heard anything from him. Good going Mr. President. The man refuses to believe that NY is part of his US.

I don't blame him, and that's not why NYC didn't get it.

Thank you.

Also, I don't mind France, but fuck the Olympics.

bwahahahaha, sour pusses.

LONDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe we even tried to get them here.

Worse yet, Baltimore-Washington put in a bid to the USOC in the prelims.

so did cincinnati

Yeah, he never even went there after 911! What a dick.

Truth is, the only war the French ever won was the French Revolution.

He's busy crashing his bicycle into Scottish policeman. What a jackass tard.

Credit where credit is due, though: Charlemagne didn't have to fight a war to gain the Holy Roman Empire.

Pretty impressive in its own right, huh?

Yeah. Imagine getting beat by Vietnam! Losers.

We didn't lose Vietnam. It was a tie

If my sister were Viet Namese, I'd kiss her. No doubt.

Asian female = sexxy.