The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) submitted a formal application to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Tuesday for Chicago’s 2016 Summer Olympic Games bid.
USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth and Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr submitted the official letter to Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, along with a letter from Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley expressing Chicago’s commitment to the IOC’s bid process.
Ueberroth said, “the Olympic bid process is about building partnerships to strengthen sport – first at home and then around the world. When we looked at Chicago we saw an ideal partner for that process, a beautiful waterfront city with passionate sports fans and a can-do Mayor who leads a city that knows how to get things done”.
Scherr said, “we look forward to presenting Chicago’s bid to the IOC over the next two years. We will demonstrate that this city has the potential to stage one of the best Olympic and Paralympic Games in history, while strengthening the Olympic Movement around the world”.
Mayor Daley and Pat Ryan, CEO of the Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee, thanked Scherr for officially submitting Chicago as the USOC’s Applicant City.
Daley said during a press conference, “the USOC has given us an opportunity to showcase Chicago around the world and to advance the Olympic Movement. And I want to thank the USOC again for this vote of confidence in our city. We are looking forward to working with the International Olympic Committee and convincing them why we believe Chicago is the best host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games”.
The Mayor also thanked the thousands of Chicago area residents who have supported the city’s bid and reminded them that everyone should take pride in what Chicago has become – a city with strong, vibrant neighbourhoods, a booming downtown, a beautiful lakefront, a thriving economy and friendly, and hardworking people of every age, income and background.
National Olympic Committees have until Sept. 13 to submit applications to the IOC from cities who want to bid for the 2016 Games. The international bid process will last until October 2009 when the host city is selected at the IOC session in Copenhagen Denmark.
