Olympic IPhone App Video
The Olympics coming to Chicago may no longer be a pipedream…
A source close to the IOC recently said, upon the IOC’s completion of it’s site inspections, that Chicago is still the front-runner in the race to host the Summer Games of 2016.
Wait… Front-runner? “Chicago’s to lose?” Everyone I spoke with was so skeptical about our potentially hosting the Olympics… I doubt that they were just trying to avoid jinxing it.
However strong the bid may be, there are some other factors to the bid that supporters may have to worry about: public support of the Games and Obama’s influence.
“To vote out Chicago would mean they had snubbed the most powerful person in the world and to vote in Chicago would lend weight to those within the movement who want state leaders barred from being present at such occasions” said the source.
Public support of the Games continues to be an issue, but several IOC officials say that public support isn’t a factor that will ruin any bid.Canadian IOC member Beckie Scott said,
“I think over 50 per cent is probably a strong enough number for a bid city to go into the election with high hopes. There are so many other factors that go into it. As long as a majority of people say they want the Olympics, then it’s O.K.”
Read more about the importance of public support here.
- Tony Valdivieso
Amidst talk of how much the Olympics will cost the city of Chicago, neighboring cities and states are trying to find ways to make money off of the second city’s opportunity.
Certain areas out of state have already been picked to host certain events should the 2016 games come to Chicago. Madison, WI has been tapped to host mountain biking and cycling events, while Old Mill Creek, IL would host the equestrian events.*** Now, these out of state locations are looking to make money from housing athletes, tourists, and trainers.
This very nice color scheme may become familiar to some lucky Olympians.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is one possible location where athletes are likely to train. Representatives from UW-Whitewater have met with Chicago 2016, and have been told that their facilities have a good chance of being used by athletes for up to six weeks before the games.
“They’re going to want to come in and use our venues for training, residence halls for housing and dining services to feed the athletes,” UW-Whitewater Athletics Director Paul Plinske said. “They’re going to create a home away from home, and college campuses are the ideal for that.”
Chicago 2016 has also been in contact with a number of Chicago universities and colleges, so it seems DePaul won’t be the only campus affected by the Olympics, and Illinois won’t be the only state.
Chicago and the entire Midwest will be put in the spotlight, that is, if Chicago is allowed to host the games in 2016.
You can read more about the talks with UW-Whitewater, here.
***I saw some equestrian events this summer while I was trying to watch something worthwhile. I did not succeed. Why didn’t they make Handball or Badminton more accessible?
-Tony Valdivieso
When Chicago proposed it’s bid for the Olympics to the IOC, they believed themselves to have done a fantastic job in finding a place for the enormously over-priced, 90,000 seat stadium (for 2 weeks before it turns into nothing more than a 2,500 seat ampitheater), they decided on Washington Park as a perfect destination to put this huge arena. However, never did they consider the people who actually live in Washington Park. The spot they have designated for this stadium, would be built on a large park on Chicago’s South Side, where games could be played there for 2 weeks and then KaBoom, it comes down to an eye sore. What Chicago’s misfit committee failed to think of, or even consider, were the people that would be affected, not just for those 2 painful weeks, but for the 4 years the whole process will take.
The Chicago Reader wrote an article recently depicting what would happen to these residents. They would be removed from this city. The park would not just take up unnecessary room, but would put an end to a plethera of sports that take place in this park every year. Little League baseball, 16″ softball, 12″ softball, basketball courts, tennis, just to name a few. Plus, there is a meeting hall in this park where city officials gather to make important decisions regarding the town. But, who cares right? It’s the Olympics. We should care. These people will be displaced for 4 years all for 2 weeks of games, that frankly no one will remember 2 weeks after the games. I mean can anyone honestly tell me any other medal winners from the 2008 Olympics other than basketball and Phelps? So while Chicago pressess to lose money, I think we should stand up for Washington Park, and avoid destroying lives.
You can check out the rest of Chicago’s genius ideas here at their official website.
–Steve Pries
DePaul students give their opinions on Chicago hosting the Olympics in 2016.
Tony Valdivieso
Watch an interview with Director of Media Relations John Holden, feat.Housing Department Communications Manager Meredith Lynch.
Read more about DePaul’s partnership with Chicago 2016 here.
Tony Valdivieso
This summer 17 Chicago wards will have a new recreation option for children…Track and Field. Mayor Daley is of course behind this new summer safe activity for kids in Chicago, who stated it was to keep young adults out of trouble this summer. But isn’t it a little ironic he thought of this activity while we are in a major race to bring the Olympics to the City? Why yes it is, especially because the program is headed by the organization World Sport Chicago which has been working with the 2016 Summer Olympics bid team to promote sports among young people.
Regardless of why Daley started the program I think it is a good idea. Each track team will require voulnteer coaches to mentor between 60 to 100 children ages 8 to 14. Each team will cost $5,000 to up keep but don’t worry this money is coming from private funds and the World Sport Chicago organization. The city is hoping to get former Olympians to help coach the children especially since Chicago use to have one of the best track and field programs in the nation according to the Tribune.
It may seem a little far fetched that the youth of Chicago would rather be running track and field than getting into trouble, but I think anything to try and prevent more gang related deaths is a good idea. I do not know if this will really help Chicago in getting the Olympics but it is a step in the right direction to end the deaths of Chicago children.
-Catherine Durkin
Last Friday ended the IOC’s tours of the 4 bid Cities. The final globetrotting stop was Madrid. This bid city already has a whopping 77% of its Olympic Venues in place or under construction which includes their aquatic center and Olympic Stadium. Obviously, that puts this bid city ahead of the game when compared to the other 3 host cities. IOC commissioner called the venues and plans in Madrid “magnificent” which was a change from the “most impressed” that was given for the other 3 cities. It looks like Madrid is pulling ahead on the leader board.
The IOC plans on doing an assessment of the risks in each city if they were to hold the games, before the final decision in October. But Chicago has one last chance to impress the IOC board on June 17th & 18th at a briefing in Switzerland. Here the bid cities have the opportunity to impress all 107 IOC voters who have been invited. This is the first briefing meeting in the history of the Olympics and was put in place to fill the gaps that voters were not aware of in the bid cities.
Chicago has a lot of votes to lobby over the next five months, but can they convince the IOC that Chicago is the city for the 2016 games? I think Chicago has a lot of competition with Madrid’s venues and housing plans but Chicago is one of a kind and I am sure they will make that known to the committee!
Check out Madrid’s 2016 Website.
-Catherine Durkin
Clearly, Obama’s name was not enough… at least in his mind.
In order to further strengthen Chicago’s Olympic bid, Obama has tapped Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett to act as the White House ambassador to the Chicago Olympics.
Jarrett, seen here, smiling.
Jarrett recently received a waiver from the White House ensuring that she will be able to officially hold a title with the White House and a former employer, Chicago 2016. She had previously served as the organizations vice chair.
Should the Olympics actually come to Chicago, Jarrett’s position would be elevated and she would receive an official title, but for now, she is a herald. “Bringing the Olympics to the United States is an important priority for the administration, and Valerie Jarrett is in a unique position to help with that effort given her experience with the committee and the city of Chicago,” said an official at the White House.
An anonymous IOC official said this of Obama and his work with Chicago 2016:“President Obama has made serious efforts to improve the overall image of the U.S. around the world… That reflects favorably on the image of the U.S. within the IOC.”
Flattering, to say the least.
Other IOC members believe that government leaders should not get involved with their countrys bid:“I strongly believe that presidents of states should not be directly involved in the Olympic selection process.”
With less than 150 days until the IOC decides upon their host city, the Obama administration is making the Chicago bid as strong as possible, and seems to be getting things in order… just in case.
Read more about how Jarrett and Obama have affected the bid, here.
Tony Valdivieso
