Let’s Send Tokyo Packing

A recent study done by German consulting agency Sport+Markt concluded that Tokyo 2016 has the least amount of public support.  Only 72 percent of the citizens questioned felt that Tokyo’s bid was “good or very good”.  Leading the pack was Madrid, with 93 percent of Spaniards backing the bid.  Chicago and Rio were closely behind. 

Now we know you’re probably thinking, but what about Ely?  Why was their public support not measured?  The answer is simple.  It would look terrible for little ‘ol Ely to have more public support than one of the big dogs.  The IOC would be faced with answering the dreaded question they have been avoiding for so long, “Why NOT pay attention to Ely 2016?”

If we were the IOC we would toss out Tokyo and seriously consider Ely. Then again we may be slightly biased.

“It’s all about the hair.”

As we near the final decision date of Oct. 2, we are leaving no stone unturned.  In fact, we have compiled a list of items we need to address in the upcoming months.  My personal favorite is the need to hire an Olympic hair styling team.  Can you believe this almost slipped right past our planning committee?  Amidst the lodging, food venues, mascot search etc . . . we almost overlooked the hair stylists. 

This was brought to our attention by a family we met late last week, who came all the way from Mizunami, Japan to visit Minnesota.  Lucky for us they ended their journey with a week of relaxation and fun in Ely.  It was actually the first thing the youngest son brought up to us, his exact words, “it’s all about the hair.”  A quick Google search confirmed, we are in need of an on-site hairstyling staff.

Olympic athletes and enthusiasts alike seem to go wild with their locks.  Check out the pictures below and if you know anyone who may be interested in a position as an Olympic Hairstylist (yes, we’ll make that a “real” position) let us know!

We’ve Inspired Another Beauty

When we first announced our bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, nearly everyone’s first reaction was “What a beautiful area to showcase to the world. Ely is a perfect location as long as the natural beauty is unharmed.”  We on the Ely Olympic Planning Committee feel strongly that each and every Olympic location should showcase a beautiful part of our world (some of the previous locations, not so beautiful, but we won’t name call). 

So you can imagine our delight to see that Dubai is strongly considering a bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.  The landscape of Dubai is in great contrast to our neck of the woods, but nonetheless beautiful.  Trade our lush green wilderness for sand dunes, fresh lakes for the deep blue sea and our quaint downtown for a cosmopolitan metropolis and you’ve got yourself the best back-to-back Summer Olympic locations in history.

Of course, we’d like to think Dubai has been inspired by yours truly in their quest to bid for the 2020 games.  Maybe we should offer them help in organizing their bid; after all, we are experts.

Ely Olympic fans show their support!

Watch the video made from photos submitted by fans of Ely from all over the country. Maybe now the IOC will stand up and take notice!

Buzzy named official Ely 2016 mascot.

After a nation-wide search, Buzzy the Mosquito has been named the official mascot of the Ely 2016 Summer Olympics.  The public voted on a winner during the annual Ely Greenstone Art Show & Sale. 

Minnesota resident Anthony Buckner, who lived in Ely years back and attended Vermillion Community College, drew Buzzy.  “It was the first thing that came to mind when I heard the Ely 2016 committee was in search of a mascot,” said Buckner.  “We used to joke that the mosquitoes up there were so big they drove cars and wore sneakers.”

Here’s to hoping the whole world gets bit by Buzzy!