CHICAGO (January 17, 2006) – Chicago 2016 unveiled a series of Olympic displays at O’Hare International Airport today to ensure that its thousands of domestic and international travelers are aware of the city’s bold vision to host the 2016 Olympic Games. The unveiling, which took place at the international terminal last night, marks another step in the city’s campaign to be chosen as the U.S. applicant city for the 2016 competition.
“O’Hare is an appropriate place for these displays because it’s the world’s gateway to Chicago,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “Our great airport system makes Chicago easily accessible from any part of the globe, and that’s just one reason why this is the ideal location for the 2016 Games.”
O’Hare welcomes more than 76 million passengers per year with nonstop service to 224 cities worldwide. Already one of the worlds great transport hubs, new expansions will increase capacity by more than 30 percent prior to the Games.
The various displays, positioned throughout the airport, will showcase the beauty and achievements of Olympic athletes through dramatic artistic demonstrations. The non-traditional displays include life-size renditions of a gymnast on a balance beam, a pole vaulter stretching to new heights and a diver ready to splash into a 20’ by 25’ pool placed on the floor. Captions use phrases like, “Some people nail their landings without any help from Air Traffic Control.”
“This campaign aims to celebrate the joy of sport as we welcome people to Chicago,” said Chicago 2016 Chairman and CEO Patrick G. Ryan. “Chicago is well accustomed to hosting the world, and we’re looking forward to doing so on a staggering scale in the summer of 2016.”
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced last week that they will submit either Chicago or Los Angeles as the U.S. applicant city for consideration by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The USOC decision will be made April 14, 2007, and a final decision by the IOC will be made in October, 2009.
Display location details
• The image of the pole vaulter is located on the back wall of the escalator on the lower level, Terminal 5. Caption – “There any number of ways to reach a height of 20ft. 1-3/4 inches. Doing it by escalator, however, doesn't earn you a world record.”
• The gymnast image is placed on the window above the handrail, located in the walkway between Terminal 1 and 2. Caption – “And you thought keeping your balance during slight turbulence was difficult.”
• The image of the diver entering the pool is located on the upper-level, Terminal 5 (Hall of Flags). Caption - “Some people nail their landings without any help from Air Traffic Control.”