Jan 23, 2007 5:15 am US/Central
Los Angeles, Chicago Submit Bids To Host Olympics
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
-
-
The U.S. Olympic Committee will make its final decision April 14.
Los Angeles and Chicago submitted detailed plans for the 2016 Summer Olympics to the U.S. Olympic Committee on Monday, a major step in the process to decide which city will bid for the games next year.
The so-called bid books contain 19 sections, detailing every aspect of the cities' plans - from their strategy to woo international decision-makers to their outline of their prospective Olympic villages, venues and media operations.
"The submission of the domestic bid books is another important milestone in our process and the cities are to be commended for the outstanding work they have done," USOC vice president Bob Ctvrtlik said.
The USOC Evaluation Commission will travel to Los Angeles on Feb. 28 and to Chicago on March 5 for two-day inspections. The USOC will announce its applicant city April 14.
The candidate city must be submitted to the International Olympic Committee on Sept. 15. The host will be chosen in 2009. Other cities that have expressed interest in hosting the 2016 Games are Madrid, New Delhi, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Tokyo.
The Los Angeles bid emphasizes Southern California's existing venues, its travel and tourism infrastructure, and its close ties to the media and entertainment industries.
"We offer the United States Olympic Committee a very compelling bid submission for Los Angeles to host the 2016 Olympic Games," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.
Los Angeles' bid includes the use of historic Olympic venues like the Coliseum and newer arenas such as Staples Center, Honda Center and Home Depot Center, which didn't exist when the city hosted the 1984 Summer Olympics.
"Los Angeles provides a higher stage on which the athletes can perform, and we will employ our star power to put a spotlight on their achievements," said Barry Sanders, chairman of the city's bid.
Chicago's committee put together a 1,200-page outline that includes 25 athletic venues, of which about 65 percent are already built, said Chicago 2016 spokesman Patrick Sandusky.
"We're really excited," he said. "We hope in that book is a proposal that will show the USOC that Chicago can host a great Olympic Games."
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Click to enlarge
Obama Makes Final Pitch For Dems Health Care Votes 56 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments