U.S. President George Bush met with members of Chicago 2016’s bid committee and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Monday and pledged his support for the bid during a briefing.
Lori Healey, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s chief of staff, told the Chicago Tribune, “he pledged to help with visibility and resources”.
President Bush told Chicago 2016 officials “you got a good bid. I’m absolutely convinced that Chicago will represent the entire country the right way if the Olympics are here in 2016”.
Speaking to Mayor Richard Daley he said, “you’ve put together an outstanding team and I just want the judges to understand that the United State of America stands squarely behind Chicago’s bid”, adding “this is a well thought out venue…and our hope is that the judges will take a look at Chicago and select Chicago for the 2016 Olympics”.
Daley said in a prepared statement after the briefing, “today’s discussion underscores the commitment of the United States government of Chicago 2016’s efforts and to the Olympic movement. Hosting an event like the Olympic Games needs the support of all levels of government”.
Referring to Chicago’s chances of winning the 2016 Games, sports economist Allen Sanderson said, “if George Bush were eligible to win a third term, no chance with respect to the bid”.
The Associated Press reports that Chicago officials say they aren’t worried an endorsement from Bush might hurt the city’s chances. Businessman Patrick Ryan said Monday after meeting with Bush, “I don’t think it’s a factor”.
According to the Associated Press Ryan has previously said that the international status of the U.S. government and its policies “will always be a factor”. AP reports that during a visit to China in April for a gathering of international sports industry leaders Ryan said, “we’ll have a change of administration. Even if people are critical of the U.S. government administration and its policies, I believe Americans are respected and well-liked as people. I don’t get any anti-Americanism”.
USIC spokesman Darryl Seibel said what matters to IOC members is a government’s support of its nation’s Olympic bid, such as providing financial support for transportation and security at the Games. He said, “support from the federal government is very important. We appreciate the president taking the time to learn more about the bid and express on behalf of the federal government its support of the bid”.
Ryan said they didn’t get into specifics during the meeting with Bush about financial commitments for the Olympics if they come to Chicago.
Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he was supporting Chicago’s bid in a videotaped message played during the USOC inspection of Chicago’s bid last March.
