CHICAGO (January 7, 2008) – At the request of the White House, President George W. Bush met with Mayor Richard M. Daley, Representative Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Vice President Bob Ctvrtlik, Chicago 2016 Chairman and CEO Pat Ryan, and several Olympic athletes to discuss Chicago’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016.
“We appreciate the President’s support and interest in our efforts to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Chicago and back to the United States in 2016,” said Mayor Daley. “Hosting an event like the Olympic Games needs the support of all levels of government and today’s discussion underscores the commitment of the United States government to Chicago 2016’s efforts and to the Olympic Movement.”
“We were very happy to brief the President and take him through our bid plans, which include not only our compact, centralized venue plan but also the Olympic experience that we plan to provide for athletes and fans alike,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman & CEO of Chicago 2016. “Listening to the President’s remarks after our briefing it was clear that he understands how important the athlete-experience is to our bid.”
“The President’s support, endorsement and encouragement is indicative of the fact that this isn’t just a Chicago initiative but a national bid and something that is important for our nation’s relationship with the world,” said Bob Ctvrtlik, International Olympic Committee member and vice president of the USOC. “The fact that the federal government stands behind us is very important.”
The briefing took place prior to a luncheon at the Union League Club of Chicago. Attendees included:
- Richard M. Daley, mayor, City of Chicago
- Rahm Emanuel, congressman, U.S. House of Representatives
- Patrick G. Ryan, chairman & CEO, Chicago 2016
- Robert Ctvrtlik, vice president, USOC, and member, International Olympic Committee
- Doug Arnot, senior vice president, Venues and Games Operations, Chicago 2016
- Lori Healey, chief of staff, Office of the Mayor, City of Chicago
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympian
- Michael Conley, Olympian and executive director, World Sport Chicago
- Linda Mastandrea, Paralympian and vice president, Sport and Accessibility, Chicago 2016
Chicago is honored to be competing for the privilege of hosting the 2016 Games alongside such world-class cities as Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; Madrid, Spain; Prague, Czech Republic; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan.
Additional images can be seen at: http://www.chicago2016.org/newsimages.aspx
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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 consists of business, civic, athletic, cultural and academ;line-height:1.5em;ic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.
Contact:
Patrick Sandusky or Mica Matsoff
+1.312.761.4826 (Chicago 2016 media line)
media@chicago2016.org