The Executive Committee of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution Thursday to fully endorse Greater Philadelphia’s proposed bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
Mark S. Schweiker, President and CEO Greater Philadelphia said, “time after time Greater Philadelphia has proven that it can easily support large scale events like the 2000 Republican National Convention, Live 8, the X Games and the President’s Summit for America’s Future… This region already has 90 per cent of the venues needed for Olympic contests. We have the infrastructure, we’re passionate about sports, and our region can attract a large live-gate and television audience. This would be a tremendous opportunity for Greater Philadelphia and we can practically guarantee both the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee that we can be great hosts and stage the most successful Games ever”.
The Chamber said it believes the region has an excellent chance to become an Olympic city because of it’s world-class facilities such as its sports complex in South Philadelphia, lodging, restaurants, cultural attractions and transportation system. Hosting the 2016 Games would be a tremendous economic windfall for the region and raise Greater Philadelphia’s stature internationally, says the Chamber.
Stephen D. Steinour, Chairman of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, said he was confident that the Greater Philadelphia can make a stronger case than any other region to host the Olympics.
The United States Olympic Committee has not yet announced if it will field a U.S. candidate for the 2016 Games.
