Jun 8, 2009 10:40 am US/Central
Chicago Leads Race For 2016 Olympics
New Analysis Says Obama Key Factor; Madrid May Be City To Watch
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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A Chicago 2016 Olympic flag on the Michigan Avenue bridge.
CBS
Chicago now holds the best chance of winning the 2016 Olympics, a new analysis said Monday.
The
Around the Rings Olympic Power Bid Index ranked Chicago on top following the International Olympic Committee trips to the city and the other three candidate cities – Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro.
But the analysis said Madrid is gaining ground.
The analysis considers several factors, including accommodation and ambience, financial handling, security, transportation, venues, public support, marketing, cost, and Olympic legacy, among a few others.
Chicago is on the top for marketing size and impact, with $2.5 billion forecast in revenue. The analysis also said Chicago "seems to have the clearest idea among the four on how to leverage the Olympics for the benefit of youth sport."
But the analysis pointed out a sustained criticism that Chicago is the only city without any promise by the government to cover costs.
"Some even say the Chicago bid should be eliminated from the field because of the guarantee issue," the analysis said.
Yet, the analysis said, "Chicagoan and U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to leave little room to doubt that his administration is ready to do all it can to support the Olympics in Chicago."
As for security, the analysis said, "Chicago has long shed its grim image as a city ruled by gun-toting gangsters, but instead security concerns would revolve around crowd safety with a downtown that promises to be packed."
The International Olympic Committee will pick a host city on Oct. 2.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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