Chicago 2016 bid officials announced a new poll showing widespread public support for its bid, which it says reflects strong continued backing for the city’s effort.
The poll, conducted by Zogby International a few weeks ago, found that more than 78 per cent of Chicagoans surveyed want the Games in Chicago, up from the 77 per cent in a similar poll announced in February.
According to a press release the bid committee’s volunteer organization has also grown substantially in recent months, topping 15,000 people from across the country, while the number of Olympic and Paralympic athletes supporting the bid has reached 2,500.
During the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) visit to the city, members of the civic, business, philanthropic and neighbourhood communities will help demonstrate Chicagoans commitment to bringing the Games to Chicago. Several thousand Chicago 2016 volunteers will take part in the visit, greeting members of the Evaluation Commission arriving and departing at the airport, participating in a city wide pep rally, and helping to manage daily operations. Olympic and Paralympic athletes will be part of the formal presentation to the commission and take part in the venue tour.
Olympian and former Chicago Bulls champion Michael Jordan has a surprise appearance at the end of a new film that features Olympians and Paralympians with Chicago ties.
The film was shown publicly Wednesday for the first time at a news conference at Douglas Park on the city’s West Side – a key Games venue in Chicago’s bid – where Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago 2016 Chairman and CEO Patrick G. Ryan gathered a crowd of civic and business leaders, as well as Olympians, Paralympians and volunteers, ahead of the IOC’s arrival Thursday.
Jordan appears in the film called “Moments”, which is among those to be shown to the evaluation commission, saying “the Olympic spirit – it’s alive in Chicago”.
Ryan said, “Michael’s endorsement of our bid is something that we prize. We thank him and all the other great athletes – including those who appeared with him in the new film – who have stepped forward to support Chicago”.
Meanwhile Mayor Daley wants Chicagoans to exhibit their support for the bid by making Chicago 2016 posters to be hung in their windows and visiting the organizing committee’s web site to register their support, or volunteer to work on the bid committee.
