WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced Chicago as its Applicant City for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games today. The announcement was made following a vote by the USOC Board of Directors during its quarterly meeting at the Hilton Washington Embassy Row Hotel in Washington, D.C.
"On behalf of the United States Olympic Committee, we would like to congratulate Chicago on its selection as our Applicant City," said USOC Chairman of the Board, Peter Ueberroth. "Our ultimate goal at the outset was to identify the U.S. city with the best chance of competing internationally. In Chicago and Los Angeles, we had two outstanding bids and we are confident that Chicago is positioned to be competitive in the international field and will make our country proud."
Chicago will now be formally nominated by the USOC to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a candidate for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The international campaign will last two years, concluding in October 2009 at the IOC Session in Copenhagen, Denmark, when the 2016 Host City is selected.
"This is an opportunity to really educate all of America and the world about what the Olympic Movement brings not only to your city, not only to your country, but also to the world," said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. "It is a spirit in which people will come together to compete on a level playing field, and it really recognizes the best of humanity."
"It is truly a great honor to partner with the U.S. Olympic Committee and work to bring back the Games to the United States," said Patrick Ryan, Chairman and CEO of the Chicago 2016 Exploratory Committee. "This is a wonderful and very important thing for our city and certainly for our country. It's great to have a partner like the U.S. Olympic Committee, and together we can work successfully."
As the U.S. Applicant City, Chicago will be bidding internationally to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time. The city's plan calls for a compact Games, providing an ease of access to all venues for athletes, media and the Olympic Family. In the plan, the Olympic Village will be situated on Chicago's lakefront to position 88 percent of the athletes within 15 minutes of their competition venues. Urban renewal projects, along with the development of new venues and renovation of existing facilities, will leave a lasting legacy. Overall, Chicago's vision as host of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is to both strengthen the Olympic Movement and unite the city.
"The international competition will be one of the toughest competitions ever," said USOC Vice President, International, Bob Ctvrtlik. "We're just getting into the starting blocks, and we will work very closely with the city of Chicago, brining together all of the resources that the United States Olympic Committee has, all of the relationships the United States Olympic Committee has formed over the years - it will be a true partnership."
"We are looking forward to going into this international phase with a very strong partnership with Chicago," said USOC Chief Executive Officer, Jim Scherr. "This contest is ultimately not about the economics, it's not about a surplus, it's about the magic that can be created through the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and how that by itself can transform the city, can transform the nation, can transform the world. We look forward to try to earn that prize, the right to host the greatest sporting event in the world, the Olympic and Paralympic Games."