Chicago 2016 Olympic bid
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The Chicago 2016 Olympic bid is a reference to an attempt by the City of Chicago and other cities, townships and villages in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin to be chosen by the United States Olympic Committee as the official United States bid for the International Olympic Committee 2016 Summer Olympics host city competition. On July 26, 2006, the USOC had narrowed its list of candidates to Chicago, and Los Angeles (San Francisco dropped out in November 2006).
It should be noted that Chicago has the dubious distinction of being the only city to have had an Olympics taken away; the 1904 Summer Olympics were originally supposed to be held in Chicago, but were moved to St. Louis to coincide with the 1904 World's Fair.
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[edit] United States Olympic Committee
The USOC's chairman, Peter Ueberroth, visited potential host cities during the month of May 2006. Ueberroth and his party visited Chicago on May 10.
[edit] Plan
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley was officially welcomed in Beijing by the government of the People's Republic of China during the week of May 15, 2006, when the mayor discussed Chicago's venture; he is the only mayor of an American city vying for the 2016 Summer Olympics to have been welcomed to Beijing on official Olympic business.
Chicago's chances for hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics are bolstered by preliminary commitments made by major corporations and wealthy Chicago philanthropists; promised participation in the planning process by community and government leaders (including the Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, a political party usually opposed to Daley); and the enthusiasm of the citizenry. Opinion polls conducted by local newspapers in early 2006 suggested that public support for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Chicago could be as high as 80 to 85 percent. Most importantly, the city's existing infrastructure and venue options are considerably more substantial than the offerings available in other interested cities. Bob Ctvrtlik, part of the initial assessment team, said, "It's got all the amenities that would make this a wonderful experience for our athletes." Ueberroth added, "Chicago is going in the right direction, and we are impressed by that."[1]
[edit] Financing
Ueberroth and members of the national committee met with Daley on May 10, 2006 for the initial assessment. On the same day, with permission from Ueberroth, Daley appointed business executive Patrick G. Ryan of Aon Corporation and part-owner of the Chicago Bears to lead the city's bid process, especially in areas of corporate participation in fundraising. In previous years, Daley opposed possible bids for the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games owing to former international committee financial-guarantee requirements. Those requirements have been relaxed in favor of a new philosophy in which the Olympic Games would become smaller in terms of construction and related costs. [citation needed] Early cost estimates hover at $5 billion, with $1 billion needed for a new Olympic stadium in Chicago. [citation needed]
[edit] Venues
Despite the need for an Olympic stadium, Chicago has dozens of existing sport venues: Soldier Field, United Center, U.S. Cellular Field, Wrigley Field, Allstate Arena in Rosemont and the new Toyota Park in Bridgeview. Venues at Loyola University Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago among others are also available. Navy Pier and the lakefront could host all beach and water events. Other regional mayors have offered venues in Indiana and Wisconsin, including use of the University of Notre Dame or University of Wisconsin facilities.
[edit] Stadium
Chicago initially proposed building a temporary 80,000 seat stadium adjacent to Soldier Field to act as the main stadium, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the track and field events. [1] Previously, according to the Chicago Tribune, Mayor Daley had expressed a desire for an additional NFL franchise to come to Chicago in order to obtain the 80,000 seat stadium needed to host an Olympics. The plan has since been revised to include a 95,000-seat stadium inside Washington Park on the south side of the city. After the games, it would be converted to a 10,000-seat track and field venue that could also host other events.
Chicago's reputation as a major convention hosting center will also help its cause. The main convention center, McCormick Place, is the largest convention center in the United States and is undergoing an expansion that will be completed in 2007. The city of Chicago has over 50,000 hotel rooms in the immediate downtown area and has the largest skilled-labor workforce in the U.S. catering to conventions and other large-scale media events.
[edit] Sport culture
Chicago benefits from a strong sports culture and is arguably one of the most sport-oriented cities in the United States. On Aug. 1, 2006, it was named "Best Sports City" by The Sporting News[2]. Chicagoans are famous for their rabid support of their home teams: the Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Bulls, and more recently, the Chicago Fire. Other events, such as the Chicago Marathon, one of the largest marathon events worldwide, will also play a part in Chicago's Olympic-planning process.
[edit] Experience
Chicago successfully hosted a profit-earning International Gay Games VII from July 15 to July 22, 2006, one of the first tests to measure Olympic host city viability. Chicago has hosted major and historic world gatherings in the past, including the famous 1893 Columbian Exposition, the 1933 World's Fair, the 1959 Pan American Games, as well as the 1994 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. Chicago was supposed to host the 1904 Summer Olympics but these were removed from the city and given to Saint Louis to coincide with its Louisiana Purchase Exposition (more commonly known as the Saint Louis World's Fair). Chicago has never been happy with its distinction as one of the few cities to have an Olympic Games taken away, and this historical issue could play to Chicago's favor.
Chicago was also the first host of the Special Olympics in 1968.
[edit] Miscellaneous
It is expected that Chicago's world-class architecture, renowned skyline, multi-cultural, historical, and pop-cultural contributions will be positive factors as the Olympics bid is weighed.
Chicago's geographic location also counts in its favor. Its central position within the United States means that its time zone is well-suited to American television coverage. The NBC Television media conglomerate is by far the largest media vendor and contract purchaser of the Olympic Games.
Michael Jordan has become an unofficial spokesman for Chicago's bid.
[edit] Recent developments
On June 23, 2006, the five United States candidates met in California to make official presentations to the USOC Board of Directors. On June 24, the Chicago Tribune reported, "USOC officials indicated they could whittle down the field of five contenders in as soon as three weeks." The article also stated, "Observers say it's likely to be a three-way horse race between.... San Francisco, Olympic veteran Los Angeles and Chicago," hinting of the possible elimination of Houston and Philadelphia [2].
On July 26, 2006, the USOC officially named San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago as the three US finalists for the 2016 Olympics, dropping Philadelphia and Houston. However, the committee still has not decided whether to pursue an international bid for a US city. That decision will be made by the end of 2006. If it is decided to move forward, the official US city will be named in March of 2007. [3]
The Chicago 2016 Exploratory Committee has launched its official Web site at www.chicago2016.org.
On September 21, 2006, Mayor Daley unveiled a revised plan for the main stadium, which would host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as track and field events. The plan calls for a 95,000 seat stadium to be constructed in Washington Park, on Chicago's South Side. The plan's preliminary design mimics the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, making use of the Midway Plaisance and the surrounding neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Woodlawn. The stadium would be temporary, and would be mostly dismantled into a 10,000-seat track and field stadium and event complex after the games. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, local Aldermen strongly support this plan.[4]
On November 13, 2006, San Francisco withdrew its bid from the national selection process, leaving Chicago and Los Angeles as the only contenders in the U.S. bid.[5]
[edit] Reference
- ^
- ^ http://www.topix.net/content/trb/0275326025052863547528754836661504543820
- ^ http://usocpressbox.org/usoc/pressbox.nsf/6272c9a938d3a5cb8525711000564abd/281cb052b8b76ea9852571b70074a70f?OpenDocument
- ^ http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-oly21.html
- ^ San Francisco Reluctantly Withdraws 2016 Olympic Bid
[edit] External links
- Chicago2016.org - Official bid website
- 2016Chicago.com - Unofficial news site
- VSA Partners, Inc. - Design partner
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