Jul 13, 2007 11:07 pm US/Central
Daley In Rio Gets Rare Meeting With Olympic Head
Rio Puts Best Foot Forward For Opening Ceremonies Of Pan American Games
by Jay Levine
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (CBS) ―
The spotlight is on Rio de Janeiro Friday night as it kicks off the Pan American Games. Rio is in competition with Chicago for rights to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent reports from Rio de Janeiro where Mayor Richard M. Daley and members of the U.S. Olympic Committee as they get a firsthand look at the competition
The lighting of the flame and fireworks in Rio's night sky on Friday kicked off what amounts to an audition for the 2016 Summer Games. Daley was watching from the stands.
The U.S. women's gymnastics team did not attend Friday night's ceremonies, instead resting for the start of their competition Saturday morning. This is a young team; two of its members, just 15 years old, could still be competing in 2016.
"I love Chicago," said gymnast Samantha Peszak of Indianapolis, Ind. "My dad grew up there and we go and visit my family, and it's so close to home. It would just be so nice to go and watch the Olympics right in your backyard."
It is not to say Rio isn't tough competition. On this sunny, 80-degree winter day, the beaches were crowded, and the skyline spectacular. It's a city of high rises but no real skyscrapers.
It's also a city of extremes; one of great beauty and great poverty. People struggle to survive in slums called favelas, crammed onto hillsides. There were 6,000 murders in Rio last year.
No one's talking about that this week. Only about how good a job Rio's doing.
"They spent a lot of money, worked very hard," Daley said. "I think they're giving great venues. They're proud of having the Pan American games in Rio. I think we should all be proud of it."
Friday night's sparkling display at a jam-packed soccer stadium was certainly Olympic caliber.
Earlier Friday, walking between beachfront hotels was the closest the mayor got to the beach as he attended meetings which included a surprise 30 minute sit-down with powerful Jacques Rogge, the Belgian president of the International Olympic Committee.
"There is quite a bit of protocol in this organization and of course we inquired respectfully and they wanted to meet Mayor Daley and Pat Ryan," said USOC Vice President Bob Ctvrtlik.
Rogge is in Rio de Janeiro for just a few days, and his making time for Daley was a valuable opportunity to give him a feel for the people and passion behind Chicago's bid.
"He has great leadership qualities," Daley said of Rogge. "He understands the principles and history of the Olympic movement and that's what inspires you."
The mayor spoke with CBS 2 before walking back down the beach with wife Maggie Daley to board a bus to the opening ceremonies of the games.
Being staged in a city with spectacular views from its many peaks, Friday evening's opening ceremonies are a colorful pageant sure to boost Rio's image and credibility with those who will decide on the 2016 host city.
"I don't think it hurts Chicago at all but I think it helps Rio because they will prove they're capable of hosting a multi-sport competition on the level of an Olympic games, and that's something Chicago will have to address throughout the bidding process," said USOC President Jim Scherr.
Chicago will undoubtedly put up a powerful fight, but on a day like this you can see why Rio will be such a formidable opponent.
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