Because he thinks New York’s bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games is a “long shot”, it’s reported New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has suggested the city start putting together a proposal to host the 2016 Games if New York doesn’t win 2012.
The New York Post quotes Silver as saying “Paris is in the lead (for 2012) because they made the bid for the previous Olympic four years ago”.
He also said he won’t be swayed by U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth’s plea Friday to approve the West Side stadium.
The New York Daily News quotes Silver as saying “Paris, as they say in sports, (is) the odds-on favourite. Let’s say to the public, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Governor, we are a long shot at best”.
A member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) told the Daily News Friday that the stadium is the “linchpin” of the city’s bid – and it was essential for it to be approved by June 6, when the IOC evaluation commission publishes a major report. The IOC member said, “I have personally spoken with probably over half of the IOC members – the stadium is a major concern to them. If the stadium is not approved, it would be extremely difficult for New York to win”.
The newspaper also quotes Roland Betts, President Bush’s representative on the city’s bid committee saying, “if we do not have clarity on this stadium – either an absolute vote that the stadium’s approved or a vote saying the stadium is approved subject to winning in Singapore – then we won’t even go. There would be no reason to go”.
Referring to Silver’s comments about New York being a long shot Betts added, “we have a very, very good chance to win this thing”. I strenuously disagree with that”.
