Jul 11, 2007 11:18 pm US/Central
Daley In Brazil To Check Out Competition For 2016
by Jay Levine
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (CBS) ―
Mayor Richard M. Daley is checking out the competition on his trip to Rio de Janeiro. He's in Brazil with other members of Chicago's Olympic bid team to see what needs to be done to get the games for 2016.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine is traveling with the mayor, and is the only Chicago television journalist to report from Rio Wednesday night.
Warm winter winds have driven people from the beach just days before Brazil welcomes the world to the Pan American Games.
They're not ready yet, but almost. The games for nations of the Americas is not quite Olympic in stature, but getting there. There's an Olympic-style village and Olympic-quality venues, like the swimming and diving complex, and Olympic-strength security.
"They've said these are all Olympic-class venues in Brazil and so the test is on," said Ed Hula of AroundTheRings.com, a site that chronicles all things Olympic.
Rio would like to host 2016 Summer Games, but with costs for these games nearly 10 times what they budgeted, they're no longer sure.
"If it goes well, it lends credibility to Rio's bid," said Brazilian journalist Eduardo Ohata.
Also in Rio watching with interest were many International Olympic Committee members, including President Jacques Rogge, making this the perfect spot for a low-key Chicago kick-off.
"We need to get to know people and let them get to know us, and tell them about what's going on in Chicago now," said U.S. Olympic Committee Vice President Bob Ctvrtlik.
Wednesday night with the U.S. flag just raised in the rain at the athletes' village, Rio's big test is at hand – and so is Chicago's. The Windy City's campaign for 2016 will Thursday; Daley is set to meet with a man many consider his chief rival, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro.
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