Mr. JOEY CHEEK (Olympic Speed Skater): Going into 2008 in the Beijing Olympics, they're hosting this and they're really looking at this as a coming out party.

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The cost of hosting the Olympics was evidently considered a sound investment for Beijing, and will be for Rio de Janeiro, as an announcement of a new found confidence and global status.

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Former Salt Lake City Deputy Mayor Brian Hatch, a key player in securing that city's winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games, recalled showing some Beijing officials around that year to help them prep for their city's hosting role in 2008.

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