The United States Olympic Committee (USOOC) evaluation commission is in Chicago today inspecting Chicago’s bid to become the U.S. candidate for the 2016 Summer Games.
USOC Vice President Bob Ctvrtlik told CBS “we’re going to be very tough on Chicago to make sure their guarantees and commitments are what they say they are”.
He added, “there’s a lot of names on paper, there’s a lot of good work turned in, but we’ve got to see the people who will bring this bid to life”.
Asked if Chicago’s stadium proposal was good enough to take to the International Olympic Committee in the international phase of the bid process Ctvrtlik said “Oh, yes”.
He said the USOC has done internal analysis and sought external input on the issue of the Chicago market absorbing the housing planned for the Olympic village. “At this point it seems what they are presenting is plausible”.
During its inspection the USOC evaluation team will see drawings of a new Olympic village and hear from developers.
Ryan said six developers and a “major financial institution” he declined to identify had expressed interest in building the Olympic village, which he said eventually would include condos, apartments, commercial space and a hotel, reports the Chicago Tribune.
Tuesday morning Chicago 2016 chairman Patrick Ryan and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley welcomed the commission at Soldier Field. The commission will see a video presentation, closed-door presentations at Soldier Field, followed by a briefing and a reception at the Art Institute.
Ryan said the USOC should be “extremely impressed” by the two locally produced videos the bid committee will present; one using advanced technology to show the geographic footprint of the Games.
Wednesday the group will tour the proposed venues for the 2016 Games, followed by news conferences from the USOC and Chicago 2016. The tour includes stops at sites of the proposed village and stadium as well as McCormick Place, which would be home to 11 sports; the international broadcast centre and main press centre; Lincoln Park with three sports; and possibly the United Center with three sports.
