Tall Poppy Syndrome

If you have started to read this in the hope that it is something to do with creating genetically modified flowers that provide a greater volume of a well known narcotic - STOP!!

I am instead referring to a term used, particularly in Australia it seems, which basically means bringing someone down to earth. Now, put up your hand if you were genuinely shocked by the elimination of Chicago in the first round of voting to select the host venue for the 2016 Olympics. Okay, my hand is down - but I must say I was a little surprised at that particular turn of events even though I didn't think Chicago would win. (And to those people who still think it, I am not anti American!).

But think about it. The world's press headlines in the run up to the vote all trumpeted the fact that President Obama and the First Lady were going to Denmark to "bring the Olympics back to Chicago". Don't blame me for the headlines, I don't write them! They went on to say - ".. if the Games are not awarded to America this could prove financially damaging to the Olympic movement". The USA is the largest financial contributor to the Games. Didn't anyone think that this sort of news reporting might get right up people's noses? (get up someone's nose: Informal - to annoy someone).

You can argue that other heads of state, Kings, Presidents were also present in Copenhagen, and they made impassioned speeches on behalf of their country, so what was the difference between them being there and the US President? Simply the manner of his arrival and the newspaper headlines that accompanied it. The message received by others - and I have been asking a lot of people in different countries - (I have been in four in the last 7 days; five if you count Hong Kong), is that the news accompanying the President indicated he was going to walk in and take the prize. I don't blame the President. His heart was clearly where it should have been, but the timing was awful.

The Tall Poppy cutters obviously thought so too!

I feel for the cities that lost the vote. So much work and effort goes into the preparation of any bid but most people seem to think that it is the turn of Latin America anyway. The chosen city of Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful place, although it has a patchy history, a questionable security record and some difficult challenges ahead. They have something to prove in being awarded this prestigious event, and I am sure they will rise to it.

To my Brasilian friends Felicitações e boa sorte. See you there!!