some radical would probably detonate themself in a large group of people...

Turkey could not be trusted to allow normal participation and protection of Israeli or Jewish athletes. The rantings of their PM disqualified them.

How typical! Other countries have lost out over the years but all have refrained from making the bitter statements that Erdogan did. Maybe the committee is scared that by the time the Olympics would have rolled around he wouldn't be in power--or Turkey would be an Islamist state requiring female competitors to be covered and Jewish competitors excluded.

If not for this Sultan Erdogan Turkey might have had a better chance of getting the games.The Turkish people need to get rid of this over inflated egotistical tyrant.............

When he started gassing and beating people at a green peace demonstration he lost the Olympic bid. He started out as a reformer but ended up a petty dictator. He is reported to be making $1 mil a month from his investments. Like the Missionaries of Hawaii, he came to do good and did very well indeed. Time to dump him. Turkey can do much better than this.

Erdogan would arrest all the press attending.

Just wait, Erdogan's gonna blame Jews again!

Edrogen has got a real missing link in his Brain Circuitry .What about the Munich Olympics did it bring peace.

I personally wish Olympics weren't locked to a single host nation / country. In my mind the Soviet Olympics of 1980 was an etalon. Soviet Union was a country sharing with many nations and republics - states. In my mind it would worth to have to try Olympics in Europe or Asia or Middle East, Africa, Latin America. I do think that having Olympics in Damscus this coming year would have put bigger stop on plans to bomb country than many others. Although I can't think of a better way to unite all people of our world than by giving us a worthy challenge, say Olympics on the Moon. I think the reason Mr. Obama wants to bomb Syria is because he ain't busy enough working on some worthy challenge. So, like any man who is forced to spend his better years in some seething pub he longs for "accomplishments". And just like his age with no better use mete things out with fists, he uses fists appropriate for the vision in his personal seething place. Alas that place has strong impact on our entier world... but that makes his pastime only more pleasure. So, why don't we give us all something better to worry about. That way instead of bombing Syrians he would be busy checking schedule as to when Damascus delivers precisely shaped rocket engine parts, or Usane Bolt might not get in time to his 100 meters distance in the Crater of Tziolkovski. Let's not give into bore and arrogance to take the better out of mankind. We have lived long enough and learned enough to find a challenge worthy of ourselves. Such a shame we fail at such a simple task so badly. Like a foster child of drunk parents fails at his homework, only to come of age and write on his tombstone "I didn't know".

Turkey hold the olympics thats the best joke ive heard so far today. You could just imagine it , the female athletes will be made to run round the track wearing burkeas !

The Fukushima reactor is still cranking out a record load of radiation, worsening by the day and there is no stopping it in the foreseeable future. However, the Japanese government insists all is well as follows: "A Dr. Yamashita was hired by the Japanese government to try to brainwash people into thinking happiness made you immune to radiation poisoning. (This man is now referred to as "Dr. Fullashita" by English speakers.) "On behalf of the Japanese government, his claims include these bizarre, pseudoscientific statements: "'To tell you the truth, radiation doesn't affect people who are smiling. Only those who are worried. This has clearly been demonstrated by animal studies. "'Drinking may be bad for your health, but happy drinkers are less affected by radiation. "'If you laugh, radiation won't get you. "'Adults over 20 years have very little sensitivity to radiation. Almost zero. "'Not a problem if you continue to live here. Just wash your vegetables, that's all. "'We don't have to worry about the health effects of ordinary people.'" Interestingly, the Japan games will be called the "Safe Games." Thanks to Mike Adams

It is only right that a country that never hosted the olympics before should be the first choice especially if the other bidder is not just same country that's hosted it in the past but the same city. At the same time Japan has a good record of putting on a good show on time and on budget and with the British and Greeks at least budgets spiraled and construction projects were late. Turkey has no proven record on hosting big events so should chances be taken? Personally I think any country that wants Olympics is crazy. It cost taxpayers tens of billions and once its all over alot of specially built facilities are pulled down so the locals never benefit from the facilities they paid for. I certainly hope Israel never applies to host the olympics. The only big international competition Israel should go after is the World Cup which is maximum and minimum layout

despite japans fukusima incident they were the best choice, spain is bankrupt just offcially not declared, turkey is in dangerous enviroment of middle east btw i liked the name fullashita :)

Once Turkey returns back to the path of Ataturk, a Turkish city but not Istanbul should host . Istanbul is well known already, it is too crowded with terrible traffic jams. Another city such as Bergama, or even Kars or Van would be much better to publicize there less known parts of the country and promote growth outside Istanbul.

kars and van requires massive investment for games istanbul doesnt althou its nice idea those places are not safe, pkk might try to take advantage even threaten turkish goverment with assults if their conditins are not met best place i think would be your city wonderfull place for games :)

The Reuters article notes that, "Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday (September 8) that had Istanbul won the bid to host the 2020 Olympics, it would have provided the hope for peace to the whole of the Middle East...." This is the same Turkish Prime Minister who orchestrated the flotilla bound for Gaza. This Prime Minister speaks out of both sides of his mouth; one side speaking to Muslims anti-Jew rhetoric, and one side speaking about peace in the Middle East region. From one side of his mouth, Turkish Prime Minister of the Tayyip Erdogan, addressed the Arab League in Cairo a few years back, has vowed to isolate Israel internationally over the flotilla affair. From the other side of his mouth, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan cries because The Party is Over.

Turkey is not only Istanbul, biut it has been treated as if it is only Istanbul especially by AKP during the lat 11 years. It is grossly over populated and already known to the world. Ephesus and Antalya also are pretty well known to the world. However Cities lile Kars, van or even Bergama near Izmir would be good choices. The east needs to be developed so that the Kurts have better future in their home rather than having to migrate to Istanbul or Izmir. (Unfortunately Izmir also has grown unhealthy recently). As far as terrorism: If it will happen it will happen anywhere. They have attacked in Bakirkoy, in the middle of Ankara, burned forests around Bodrum and Fethiye. Izmir hosted a very successful Mediterranean Olympics in the 1970ies which I watched many of the events. The Ataturk closed sports complex and the pool behind it as well as the soccer stadium were all built for it.