Chicago 2016 Gets Golden Ticket
First in report, Ueberroth endorsement
AP
The fields are ready.
Chicago 2016 is having a good day.
With the International Olympic Committee finalizing its decision about the site for the 2016 summer Olympics, Around the Rings issued a report today showing Chicago in first place. Madrid followed in second place with Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro tied for third.
On the same day, former Olympic executive Peter Ueberroth gave an unusual endorsement of Chicago during a radio interview.
“Chicago is a sports fan’s town and embraces sports,” Ueberroth told WBBM radio. “Chicago has tradition. You’ve got the best mayor, the most recognizable mayor other than maybe New York, who is respected around the world. You can find enclaves of every possible nationality you can possibly list and so I think Chicago can introduce the Midwest to the world through the Olympic movement.”
Ueberroth stepped down from his position as the United States Olympic Committee Chairman last October.
“You are the leader,” he said to the radio station about the bid. “As I talk to people around the world, Chicago is now being considered very positively.”
The index regularly tracks the bid cities across 11 categories including venue plans and ambiance. Chicago scores 80 out of 110 possible points. Madrid scored 78 and Rio and Toyko both had 77 points. The last report came out in September of 2008.
"What this poll shows is that after visiting all four cities, a very respected Olympic journalist identified that there were four world class cities in this race, and that the race will go down to the final wire," Chicago 2016 Chairman Patrick Ryan said.
The IOC will announce the host city in October.
Posted Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 4:19 PM CST
