Philadelphia 2016 co-chairs Dawn Staley, Joseph M. Torsella and David L. Cohen released a statement Wednesday on the city’s elimination from the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) short list for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
They said they want to thank the people of the Philadelphia region, the Philadelphia 2016 Board of Directors and all those who supported the campaign and “worked so hard to deliver an outstanding bid to the USOC”.
While disappointed with the decision “we are also enormously proud as Philadelphians to have made it to the second round of a competition for hosting the most prestigious sporting event in the world”, and they pledged to continue to support and USOC and any city it selects for the international campaign”.
The statement continues, “we hope to build on our partnership with the USOC to attract other Olympic sporting events to the Philadelphia region”.
USOC head Peter Ueberroth said Philadelphia’s Center City plan ranked ahead of any other city on the list. “Philadelphia was the most exciting city in the tour”, referring to the May 9 visit by USOC organizers. “The redevelopment of its downtown has been nothing short of spectacular. Some may not think so, but it wasn’t even close. (Philadelphia) won that category hands down”, he said.
Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said Wednesday he was disappointed with the decision. He said, “the Philadelphia 2016, the people of Philadelphia, and every state, county and city official who worked so hard on this bid should be commended. While I am terribly disappointed that the USOC decided that Philadelphia won’t be considered as the host, we should all be enormously gratified that the city has been recognized for its ability to host such a prestigious worldwide event. I am confident that some day this experience will lead to greater opportunity with the USOC and other major event planners”.
The Associated Press reports that when the five cities were invited to make presentations to the USOC board of directors last month in La Jolla, California, Philadelphia’s Mayor John F. Street was the only bid city mayor who didn’t attend.
Torsella said the Mayor’s non-attendance didn’t factor into the USOC’s decision. He said the Saturday event conflicted with the Mayor’s religion as a Seventh Day Adventist.
