Apr 14, 2007 4:57 pm US/Central
Chicago Wins Olympic Bid
Los Angeles Edged Out To Represent U.S. In 2016 Games
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (CBS) ―
Chicago is the United States' pick to host the 2016 Olympic Games, and will now go on to compete with other cities worldwide.
The U.S. Olympic Committee announced on Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C., that they had picked Chicago over Los Angeles.
Chicago organizers have raised more than $32 million to help finance the bid.
Immediately after the announcement, Mayor Richard M. Daley emphasized the potential importance of the Olympics -- not just to Chicago, but to the United States and the world as he thanked the USOC.
"This is an experience that I think every city should do because it brings out the best in your city," the mayor said.
"This is an opportunity to realy educate all of America and all the world how important -- moreso today -- what the Olympic movement brings," he added.
Mayor Daley also pointed out the importance of popular support for the Olympics.
"People really want us to succeed in the Olympic movement – older people, younger people – it's 'we,' it's not Mayor Daley, it's not one person, it's 'we,'" the mayor added.
In awaiting the decision, Daley said, "I was very, very nervous, and that's why I jumped right out of the seat. I was like a little kid watching the Olympics."
Chicago 2016 chairman Pat Ryan praised Los Angeles officials for making Chicago work hard.
"They've put us through our paces. It was good for the process, and we're just very proud to have competed with Los Angeles," he said.
Ueberroth said there was no specific selling point that led the committee to vote for Chicago, and he said the vote was close.
"It was not necessarily a landslide vote. Both cities got votes and we're not going to divulge anything more than that, but it was a very competitive bid," Ueberroth said.
But one major factor that stood out for the committee, Ueberroth said, was "the enthusiasm of the average person on the street. We get contacts from all over the world, and all over the sudden this area of the country kind of awakened to the Olympic movement and stepped up so aggressively, it caught our attention....
"But I think that in the end it was a close vote," he continued. "I'd like to speak for myself – I will tell you that I was convinced that both cities had a chance to go and take what they manufactured in this bid and take it and internationalize it with a humble approach, and go to the rest of the world."
Ueberroth also said Chicago would bring a unique landscape to the Olympics.
"Personally I love the idea of the athletes on the lakefront. I don't think that's ever happened, and that would be great," Ueberroth said.
Ueberroth said Chicagoans should focus on learning about people of the world in advance of the Olympics.
"I think many people would tell the people of Chicago to brush up on their foreign languages, brush up on their knowledge and respect for all of the 200-plus countries that come to the Olympic games," and maintain an understanding of diversity, Ueberroth said.
He added there was no reason to believe Chicago would end up in the red.
"A city would have to be a blitering idiot to put on an Olympic Games and not have a surplus," Ueberroth said.
When the U.S. Olympic Committee expressed concerns about the city's ability to finance the Olympics, the City Council voted to offer a financial guarantee of $500 million in local tax dollars. Under that plan, taxpayer funds would only be used as a last resort if the city came up in the red after the games.
Before making the announcement, Olympic officials expressed praise for both Chicago and Los Angeles.
"Both of these two cities have performed very well over the last 12 months… they've demonstrated an ability to envision an Olympic Games that would be meaningful to the athletes of the world, meaningful to our country, and meaningful to their cities and staes," said USOC Vice President Bob Ctvrtlik.
"If I had all power… I would take the map and merge the two cities, because if you could take the mayors of these two communities and have them run our countries, we would all be better off," added USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth. "Either city can win. We wouldn't have gotten into this race if we hadn't thought so."
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Chicago's win was a proud moment for the United States.
"Let me just say how proud I am to be an American. What an honor this process has been. I said to you earlier that there were two great American cities… and I, of course, want to congratulate the great City of Chicago," Villaraigosa said. "This is a proud moment for every Chicagoan, but it's a proud moment for Americans as well."
He also called cited Mayor Daley's leadership as a factor that could help Chicago.
"I said to everyone from the beginning never ever count Richie Daley out," Villaraigosa said. "This is a man who has no peer among American cities. He is without question a great mayor, and we are very fortunate to have him leading the American bid."
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said Chicagoans should be proud that their metropolis was selected.
Obama believes having the games in Chicago "can help restore our nation's standing as a source of hope and opportunity around the globe."
Mayor Daley and other city officials have been working for more than a year to envision a plan to host the 2016 Games.
Last year, the mayor criss-crossed the world, visiting Beijing, Athens and London to explore how they bid successfully for the Olympics.
After further planning by the mayor and Chicago 2016 Chairman Pat Ryan, a blueprint that featured a brand new stadium in Washington Park and an Olympic Village near McCormick Place were unveiled.
Chicago will now compete with Madrid, New Delhi, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Tokyo, which are among the other world cities that have expressed interest in landing the 2016 Games. The final decision will be made in 2009.
"This is a historic day for the City of Chicago and for the State of the Illinois," said Gov. Rod Blagojevich. "Chicago is a world-class city, a great sports town and the perfect place to host the Olympics. It's a city filled with immigrants from all over the world, and the logical location for athletes from around the world to compete in the ultimate international sports event. But this race is a marathon, not a sprint. The State of Illinois will continue working closely with Mayor Daley and the Chicago 2016 committee to do everything we can to bring the Olympics to Chicago."
Senate President Emil Jones, Jr. commended Daley. Jones said that if Chicago is chosen as the site by the international Olympic committee in 2009, the entire region will benefit from Chicago hosting the games.
"Millions of people will travel to our great state from all over the world, and will bring millions more in revenue. It will be an incredible boon for state and local economies and will add greater dimensions to the growth and vitality of the new and emerging south side."
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