Olympics 2016

Millennium Park Party Raises $12M For Olympic Bid

CHICAGO (CBS) ― "Chicago Believes." That's the theme of a massive VIP party and fundraiser that took over part of Millennium Park Monday night, raising $12 million for Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports that it was a sold out event with the tents barely big enough to hold the more than 2,000 supporters who paid big money to attend, to eat the food of big-time chefs including Jackie Shen and Tony Mantuano and to enjoy a full evening of Olympic-themed entertainment.

It was an event with an international flavor, featuring music and dance by Hubbard Street Chicago; even an original song, "I Will Stand," inspired by Chicago's support for the Olympic movement.

But according to Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chicago's Olympic bid is more than just winning something for Chicago.

"It is about the United States building bridges of friendship with the world," Daley said.

Thirteen-year-old Matt Foster is ranked 4th in the nation among all-around gymnasts his age. If Chicago gets the 2016 summer games, Matt could well be competing. He's just one of many Olympic hopefuls who demonstrated their talents at Millennium Park Monday afternoon all around the Great Lawn in Millennium Park.

The park is within minutes of many of the venues Chicago has planned as part of its bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Helping make that Olympic dream come true is what Monday's event is all about.

U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Jim Scherr said, "The reason the USOC gave Chicago this opportunity is the support of this community, the beautiful city you see here and the ability of Mayor Daley, (Chicago 2016 Chairman) Pat Ryan and this community to build a team that can bring the games forward."

The evening made a big dent in the $49 million international phase of the bid, raising $12 million. in fact, no more big fundraisers are planned.

Merrill Lynch's Bob Graham helped co-chair the fundraiser. He said, "We want to continue to energize the population in and around Chicago and the business community, so it's turned out to be almost like a pep rally. We're very excited. We want to raise money and raise awareness and we want to be significant with the Olympics coming to town."

Public support for Chicago's bid is more than 80 percent, about the same as Madrid and Rio de Janeiro. People in Tokyo are split over whether they want the games, with only about 50 percent public support.

Monday's event will feature an international program from Chicago's Hubbard Street Dancers to Chinese Cirque du Soleil acrobats, with a similar international flavor at the dinner, where seats go from $500 to $10,000 each.

The event was a big chance to raise money for Chicago's Olympic bid, but much of the evening was all about athletes, including one who has just qualified to compete in Beijing next month.

Diver Christina Loukas said, "I'm honored to be here, especially being from Chicago and if the Olympics are here, that would just be a great experience for everyone … it would be awesome."

Loukas said she'd lobby her fellow athletes on behalf of Chicago. Although she would be 30 years old when the 2016 Olympics come around, she said many divers still compete at that age and she'd like to be one of them, competing in her hometown.

Daley and Pat Ryan are heading for Beijing too with their eyes on a different prize. Scherr said, "That's an opportunity to get very direct contact with IOC members and really sell the city and the bid."

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