An international symposium, titled "Olympic Arts Festivals: Recent Experiences and Future Designs," has just concluded in Chicago. More than 100 Chicago-area arts and culture leaders, municipal and university officials and Chicago 2016 bid committee personnel met for two days to discuss Chicago's potential contribution to the tradition of staging Cultural Olympiads. The University of Chicago and the newly formed Chicago Consortium on Olympic Studies (CCOS), multidisciplinary body of scholars who study aspects of sports and the Olympic Movement, sponsored the conference.
Conference participants were welcomed by Chicago 2016 Chairman and CEO Patrick Ryan, who is a distinguished arts and education philanthropist. “Chicago has an incredible tradition of cultural institutions and programs. Not only do we have more than 100 ethnic communities, we also have wonderful institutions that promote culture constantly,” Ryan said. Dave Bolger, chief operating officer of Chicago 2016, also spoke at the conference.
Conference attendees heard detailed analyses of recent Olympic Arts Festivals from international experts Beatriz Garcia, Craig Hassall, Jeffrey Babcock and Miquel de Moragas. Intensive small group and plenary discussions were held on the Olympic Movement's cultural mandate and how Chicago can respond with imaginative and inclusive offering.
According to John MacAloon, conference organizer and CCOS chairman, Chicago was the perfect city to organize the event. "This is the earliest in any Olympic Games bid process that a potential Host City has gathered to focus on the crucial arts and culture dimension of the Olympiad,” he said. “The enthusiastic and thoughtful participation of so many leaders is testimony to the place of arts and culture in our city's life and vision."
Major Chicago architectural groups, science and history museums, performing arts organizations, ethnocultural heritage centers, environmental groups, university and secondary school educators, community associations and popular festival organizers were among those represented at the meeting.
Sydney Cultural Olympiad Chief Craig Hassall told the concluding session, "To insure a vibrant and innovative cultural Olympiad, you must start early to get all of the design, organizational, and financing issues right. This wonderful meeting demonstrates your commitment to this task."
Participants were feted at a reception and jazz performance at the Hyde Park Arts Center, which is near to the proposed site of the Olympic Stadium in Washington Park. Remarks by Xinjie Li, Cultural Consul of the People's Republic of China in Chicago, highlighted the event.
On June 4, the International Olympic Committee announced a short list of Candidate Cities that moved on to the international phase of the bid process. Chicago is honored to be competing for the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games alongside such world-class cities including: Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan. The Host City will be selected by the IOC on October 2, 2009, in Copenhagen.
###
About Chicago 2016
Chicago 2016 is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The committee’s board comprises business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as chairman and CEO. Contact: Mica Matsoff, 312-861-4826, media@chicago2016.org.