Planners of Chicago’s bid to become the U.S. candidate to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games announced that they have shifted from their two-stadium plan to only one – a temporary 80,000-seat structure as the venue for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and the track and field competition.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the decision to drop the original plan was made after an August 9 meeting with U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) officials.
On advice from USOC officials that the dual-ceremony idea would not fly internationally, and the realization that Soldier Field was unsuitable even as a single-ceremonial venue with track and some soccer matches in the temporary Olympic stadium because its seating capacity and field size are insufficient and would need costly renovation, the Chicago Tribune reports the plan was revised.
Patrick Ryan, chair of the city’s bid told the newspaper, “we’re not giving up on the idea of using Soldier Field, even if it cannot be for ceremonies or track. It might be as a light venue – a place where people can come to watch the ceremonies on jumbotrons and be entertained in other ways”.
He said Chicago’s bid will continue even if Mayor Richard Daley does not run for re-election next year. The USOC has said Daley’s presence was a major asset to the bid.
Ryan said, “I’m not speaking for the mayor, but I don’t expect that to happen”.
