Olympics 2016

Olympic Committee: Chicago Has Work To Do On Bid

CHICAGO (AP) ― The head of the U.S. Olympic Committee was blunt Tuesday when assessing where Chicago ranks in the contest to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

"Still not anywhere near first," USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth said.

Last year, Ueberroth said he thought Chicago was third or fourth in the running for the games and needed to work hard to sell itself to International Olympic Committee members. Chicago has gained expertise in how to make a successful Olympic bid since then, but Ueberroth said it still has a ways to go. And he won't say where he thinks Chicago ranks among the seven contenders vying to be host city.

Besides Chicago, other cities seeking the games are Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Tokyo; Madrid, Spain; Doha, Qatar; Prague, Czech Republic; and Baku, Azerbaijan.

Chicago will get some idea soon about where it and the other cities stand when the IOC whittles the list of seven to an undetermined number of finalists in June. Chicago is likely to make the cut, and the IOC will select the host city in October 2009.

Being an underdog doesn't worry Chicago 2016 chairman Patrick Ryan.

"We don't want to be the favorite, favorites haven't done much," Ryan said.

For instance, Paris was the top choice heading into the IOC's voting for the 2012 Olympics, but it ultimately lost the games to London after a hotly contested battle.

USOC chief executive officer Jim Scherr said the only time it will matter for Chicago to be first is when the IOC votes next year on a host city.

"We're capable of winning then," Scherr said.

The USOC has been careful not to overplay American chances for everything from winning medals in the upcoming Beijing Olympics to luring the games to Chicago because no country wants to appear overly confident.

The USOC has worked hard under Ueberroth to improve its image internationally and has made significant progress. But there are still simmering tensions, including an unresolved dispute over the USOC's share of global Olympic revenues.

Olympic organizers and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley have worked to promote the city and its bid on the international sports scene since being chosen as the American bidder a year ago over Los Angeles. Those efforts have included the successful staging of last year's world boxing championships and trips abroad, including a recent visit by Ryan to an international sports gathering in Beijing.

For his part, Daley doesn't like to take anything for granted, acknowledging Chicago's tough competition.

"Once you're on the short list, that is the key," Daley said.

Chicago's diversity with its strong immigrant population is a key asset in its bid, Ueberroth said. The city is counting on its diversity to convince IOC members from around the globe of Chicago's appeal.

Chicago's challenge is to make IOC members aware of Chicago and its assets, Ryan said.

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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