Apr 19, 2007 11:22 pm US/Central
Mayor In Washington To Promote Olympic Bid
Daley And The Illinois Congressional Delegation Are In Washington To Strategize
by Jay Levine
WASHINGTON (CBS) ―
Mayor Richard M. Daley and Frank Kruesi, who Thursday announced his retirement from the Chicago Transit Authority, hopped on a plane to Washington for a key meeting on the city's Olympic bid.
As CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports, the mayor and the Illinois congressional delegation strategized about how to bring the 2016 Games to Chicago.
Kruesi is just one of the experts the mayor brought with him. He's here to talk about federal money for mass transit, which was one focus of the trip, though it has now taken a back seat to the movement that's taken Chicago by storm.
The trip was originally scheduled to push Chicago's legislative agenda – O'Hare Airport expansion and Homeland Security money and tax reform – but took on added significance when Chicago got the nod from the USOC.
The mayor and Sen. Dick Durbin were surrounded by the rest of Illinois' congressional delegation as they discussed the upcoming campaign to sell the rest of the world on Chicago.
"We have pledged our total support in a bi-partisan way to help the mayor in every way possible," Durbin said.
But in the week since Chicago's plan for the 2016 Games, and the passion of its people won over U.S. Olympic officials, speculation about our prospects for hosting the games has centered on America's image abroad, which Durbin told CBS 2 could change.
"Some of the controversy about America Thursday related to the current president and his policies," Durbin said. "And if you feel badly about any politician whether it's a senator or congressman or president, in a few years, things are likely to change. But take a look at America. America has so much to offer, particularly here in Chicago."
"This is one of those opportunities that comes along in a lifetime," added Rep. Dennis Hastert. "But in order to make this thing work we have to come together we have to work together as a delegation and we pledged to do that and we thank Mayor Daley for his leadership."
After meeting with the delegation, the mayor sat down with CBS 2 and said while the support of elected officials was important, it was the spirit of the people of Chicago that would be the determining factor.
"People come up to me and they're excited, they say we're gonna get the Olympics," Daley said. "And to me it does matter if you're black, white, Hispanic, Asian; it doesn't matter where they live, it doesn't matter who you are, people are so proud."
Rep. Rahm Emanuel said once the people see that spirit and get to know the people of Chicago, the bid will be a done deal.
"It always happens they know a little things they come to Chicago and they're overwhelmed by the city, its people and its entire environment and atmosphere and its sense of can-do," Emanuel said.
It's another kind of spirit, Daley tells CBS 2 he hopes international voters will focus on. The true spirit of the Olympics, he says, has nothing to do with the policies of politicians.
"The Olympic movement sets all that aside, and what they're looking at is the name Olympian and what they're looking at is people competing from various countries against one another setting aside politics, the history of the country, just getting people together," Daley said.
It's clear the mayor can hardly contain his enthusiasm about the Olympics. He was so excited he made plans to fly to Beijing next week for a meeting of international sports organizations. He decided Thursday night to cancel that trip, and start Chicago's campaign a little more slowly.
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