Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics
Colleen Henry
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Sports
Where will the 2016 summer Olympics be held? It might just be in the Windy City. Chicago is not, however, the only possible location. In addition, and the city of Chicago has to prove that they can indeed hold this important event. The final decision for the location is to be made on Oct. 2.
Chicago is one of four possible locations to hold the 2016 summer Olympics. Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro are the other final candidates.
Many strides have been made to hopefully push Chicago to the front of the pack, including a visit from the International Olympic Committee, which started on April 2.
Michael Jordan took part in a promotional video, and he intends to be a part of the process as it continues. Alos, Oprah Winfrey made a personal appearance at the gala on April 6.
Holding the Olympics in Chicago will not be an easy task. According to a survey done by the bid committee, approximately 78 percent of Chicagoans are in favor of having the Olympics in Chicago. While that is well above the majority, that still leaves 22 percent who are uneasy about the idea.
Protestors walked the city streets while the Olympic Committee was visiting, hoping to have their opinions heard.
A concern of a coalition, Communities for Equitable Olympics, is the fact that Mayor Richard Daley and the 2016 bid team did not get full approval from the City Council before the Olympic Committee paid its visit.
"Chicago has not honored its promise. They told us that we will have our concerns heard and a legally binding agreement to prove it. We don't have it," said Denise
Dixon, the executive director of one of the coalition groups called Action Now, to the Chicago Tribune.
Another roadblock to hosting the Olympics in Chicago is how much it all would cost. The projected cost for the games is about $3.3 billion. As this recession continues, money begins to be a huge question on many individual's minds. Many are in support of the Olympics. However, they do not want taxes to be raised because of it.
Even though the games would not be for another seven years, Chicagoans are still hopeful that this might help the struggling economy.
Chicago is one of four possible locations to hold the 2016 summer Olympics. Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro are the other final candidates.
Many strides have been made to hopefully push Chicago to the front of the pack, including a visit from the International Olympic Committee, which started on April 2.
Michael Jordan took part in a promotional video, and he intends to be a part of the process as it continues. Alos, Oprah Winfrey made a personal appearance at the gala on April 6.
Holding the Olympics in Chicago will not be an easy task. According to a survey done by the bid committee, approximately 78 percent of Chicagoans are in favor of having the Olympics in Chicago. While that is well above the majority, that still leaves 22 percent who are uneasy about the idea.
Protestors walked the city streets while the Olympic Committee was visiting, hoping to have their opinions heard.
A concern of a coalition, Communities for Equitable Olympics, is the fact that Mayor Richard Daley and the 2016 bid team did not get full approval from the City Council before the Olympic Committee paid its visit.
"Chicago has not honored its promise. They told us that we will have our concerns heard and a legally binding agreement to prove it. We don't have it," said Denise
Dixon, the executive director of one of the coalition groups called Action Now, to the Chicago Tribune.
Another roadblock to hosting the Olympics in Chicago is how much it all would cost. The projected cost for the games is about $3.3 billion. As this recession continues, money begins to be a huge question on many individual's minds. Many are in support of the Olympics. However, they do not want taxes to be raised because of it.
Even though the games would not be for another seven years, Chicagoans are still hopeful that this might help the struggling economy.
Be the first to comment on this story