Chicago, IL - In anticipation of the January 14 deadline for Chicago 2016 to submit its first official bid document to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic and Paralympic athletes along with the bid committee gathered in the lobby of Chicago 2016 headquarters today to celebrate the send-off of the Applicant City questionnaire.
The IOC questionnaire is the first official document all Applicant Cities must submit to the IOC to start Phase I of the IOC’s two-step procedure of the bid process, known as the Candidature Acceptance Procedure. The questionnaire serves as each city’s logistical blueprint for organizing their proposed Olympic Games.
The group assembled to package the IOC questionnaire in an environmentally-friendly manner for send-off to Lausanne, Switzerland. The questionnaire document itself was printed using an environmentally-conscious process, as sustainability is a component woven into Chicago’s plans for the 2016 Olympic Games. The book was printed with 100 percent soy ink on Neenah’s 100 percent post-consumer recycled fiber, and the carbon emissions associated with printing and distribution were offset with carbon credits purchased on the Chicago Climate Exchange.
“We are embarking on an important mission for Chicago, the country and our athletes,” said Michael Bennett, boxing Olympian, 2000. “As we count down to January 14, today marks a time to celebrate the U.S. bid and prepare to teach the world how we plan to host them in 2016.”
“This truly is a historical milestone for the Chicago 2016 bid,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman & CEO of Chicago 2016. “Revealing the breadth of our bid program to the IOC in this questionnaire will be the first poignant landmark of our march to October 2, 2009 and, ultimately, the summer of 2016.”
Attending Olympians:
Michael Bennett, boxing, 2000
Bob Berland, judo, 1984 and 1988
Diane Simpson, gymnastics, 1988
Attending Olympic hopefuls:
Armand Rhone, athletics, 2012
Raena Rhone, athletics, 2016
The IOC questionnaire is the first official document all Applicant Cities must submit to the IOC to start Phase I of the IOC’s two-step procedure of the bid process, known as the Candidature Acceptance Procedure. The questionnaire serves as each city’s logistical blueprint for organizing their proposed Olympic Games. The IOC studies the answers, examining each city’s potential to organize a successful Games in 2016. At the end of this phase, in June 2008, the IOC Executive Board selects the cities that will become Candidate Cities and move on to Phase 2.
Chicago is honored to be competing for the privilege of hosting the 2016 Games along side such world-class cities including: Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; Madrid, Spain; Prague, Czech Republic; Rio de Janerio, Brazil and Tokyo, Japan.
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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
+1.312.861.4826 (Chicago 2016 media line)
media@chicago2016.org