Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only two cities to ever be victims of atomic bombings, soon hope to become the only two cities to ever co-host the Olympic Games.

The mayors of the two cities have made a joint bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. The cities plan to team up and campaign on a message centered on world peace.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently made history by awarding Rio de Janeiro the 2016 Olympic Games, making it the first-ever South American city to host the event. But will the committee bend the rules and allow two cities to co-host the event?

From The Travel Detective Blog …

Chicago lost its Olympic bid for 2016 to Rio de Janeiro.

In retrospect, it was not because Chicago has nothing to offer, but because of the way the world perceives us.

Amtrak has announced that this year’s ridership reached the second-highest mark in its history, despite a decline of more than 1 million passengers over the past year.

Amtrak officials say a decrease in business travel in the Northeast was what prevented the railroad from keeping up with last year’s surge in riders, which represented the highest number of Amtrak passengers ever recorded.

Keep reading to find out the latest on Amtrak and the American train system …

In a turn of events that surprised many, the Nobel Committee awarded its Peace Prize to President Barack Obama today.

Though polls suggest his administration has improved the global image of the United States, Obama’s popularity has yet to translate into any gain for the country’s tourism industry.

But with pro-American sentiment on the rise globally, and renewed efforts to woo foreign visitors, is the American “brand” bouncing back?

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been awarded the 2016 Summer Games, which will make it the first South American city to host the Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose Rio over Madrid in the final vote. Tokyo and Chicago were eliminated earlier after the four cities made their final presentations before the committee in Copenhagen.

So what were the factors behind Brazil’s win?

President Obama is flying to Copenhagen today, and First Lady Michelle Obama will join him tomorrow to lobby the International Olympic Committee to choose Chicago as the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro are also submitting their bids to host the summer Olympics.

Also part of the bid team? A slew of Olympic medalists and one of Chicago’s most famous personalities: Oprah Winfrey.

Think Salt Lake City is destination reserved for Mormons and skiers?

Well, that’s certainly a part of it, but Ann Cochran uncovers some unexpected gems in the “Crossroads of the West.”

Join her as she explores everything from funky neighborhoods to … craft brew pubs?

Trainspotters and Olympics fans all over the UK are celebrating the imminent launch of the UK’s first high-speed train service, which will ferry passengers between London and southeast England at twice the speed of regular trains.

The train, dubbed the Javelin, is part of an effort to improve transport in advance of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The service will originate at St. Pancras Station in London and will make three stops: Stratford (in east London); Ebbsfleet; and Ashford (in Kent).