Letter from Pat Ryan PDF Version
Chicago 2016’s delegation to Beijing was truly inspired by our time there, and we were able to glean some insights from international sport leaders and members of the IOC that should prove tremendously helpful for our bid. Many of the athletic competitions showcased the Olympic Movement at its best and demonstrated how the Games can bring nations together and promote harmony and peace.
I’ve always felt that this bid belongs to the people of Chicago: our organization is financed 100 percent by private donations, and we’ve been fortunate to have thousands of volunteers get involved in our efforts. During the Games members of the 2016 team blogged about their experiences, and for the Paralympic Games our site will feature daily updates from athletes, coaches and bid representatives. We also launched a new Chicago 2016 online channel and have asked Chicagoans to submit videos telling the world “Why Chicago” should host the Games in 2016.
By giving you a glimpse of all the hard work we’re doing and by providing you the opportunity to show your pride in our city, I hope you’ll feel even more connected to the bid. We have just 13 months to go, and we’ll need the support of the whole city to bring the Games here in 2016.
Best regards,
Patrick G. Ryan
Chairman and CEO
Chicago 2016
Join the Nike+ Human Race This Sunday
On Sunday, August 31, Chicago’s lakefront will provide the setting for the Nike+ Human Race, a 10K run to raise money for three great causes: Livestrong, Ninemillion.org and the World Wildlife Fund.
Chicago 2016 has a history of supporting athletic events and road races in the Chicago area, and the bid will be out in force to cheer on runners and help make the event a success.
You can get involved in many ways: if you’ve already registered for the race, you can join the Chicago 2016 team and pledge your miles to our total. Team members can also contribute miles they accrue before and after the race using the Nike+ system. Or contact a friend in the United States or overseas and ask them to register to run in one of the many participating cities or even on their own.
Our goal is to tally at least 2016 miles to contribute to the worldwide total. You can also volunteer with Chicago 2016 to cheer on the runners. We urge everyone who participates to submit a blog post or video to the Chicago 2016 online channel.
Now’s your chance to show the world how Chicagoans rally around a worthy cause!
Two Birds with One Stone: Support the Chicago Sky and Chicago 2016
There are many ways to be part of Chicago 2016’s efforts to bring the Games to Chicago, and the Chicago Sky has come up with a great way to do so while taking in exciting WNBA action.
The Sky has a series of games coming up at the UIC Pavilion in September, and the organization will donate 25 percent of the ticket price to the bid’s efforts. Sylvia Fowles, a member of the 2008 gold medal–winning U.S. women’s basketball team, plays for the hometown crew, so it’s a perfect opportunity to see one of the top players in the league do her thing.
To take advantage of the offer, visit chicagosky.net and enter promo code CHI2016, call 866.SKY.WNBA or e-mail tickets@chicagosky.net.
Athletes and the Bid: David Diaz
Chicago resident David Diaz is a professional world champion lightweight boxer who competed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Diaz is participating in Chicago 2016’s yearlong “Star Reading Program,” in which Olympians and Paralympians read to children at Chicago Public Libraries, and kicked off the program on August 27 at the Toman Public Library. Diaz took 15 minutes out of his busy schedule to sit with Chicago 2016 and catch up.
Chicago 2016: What are your thoughts on the Beijing Olympic Games? Have you been watching them?
David Diaz: Yes I have. I’ve watched gymnastics, some basketball and some volleyball. I love that. I’ve watched a little bit of wrestling and track and field, and I’ve checked out the rowing too. I like watching all of it, but the best was the Opening Ceremony.
Chicago 2016: What are your recollections of the 1996 Olympic Games?
David Diaz: At first it was like, “Oh brother, we are going to Atlanta?” After a couple of years, I realized how good it was for my family. We went to the Olympic Games. They were able to be in the Olympic Village. Afterward I thought about it. I had a brother who passed away. He came up to me in Atlanta and said, “Man, I’ve always dreamed of coming to the Olympics, but I never thought a family member would bring me there.” That stuck with me. It was really nice. If it was in Europe, my parents wouldn’t have been able to go. Atlanta was a nine-hour drive, so it was nice. For me it was by far the best experience of my life, second to my kids being born. It’s the best feeling in the world.
The Opening Ceremony for me was the best. We were all just in awe of how we were received by the crowd there. We got so many cheers. But for the U.S. boxing team, it was a little more special because the guy who lit the torch was Muhammad Ali. We were on cloud nine. It was our Olympics. And although we only ended up winning one gold medal and three bronze medals, it still didn’t take away from the beauty of it. It felt great. I was making my family and country proud.
Chicago 2016: Why should Chicago get the Olympic Games in 2016?
David Diaz: Not only because there are going to be a lot of Chicagoans representing us, but it’s a great city. We have everything! Diverse people all have little towns here, including people from France, Germany, Mexico, China and Puerto Rico. They all have a community of culture. It will be a nice home away from home for everybody. The city is a big melting pot.
Chicago 2016: Why are you participating in the “Star Reading Program”?
David Diaz: This will help a lot of kids in the Hispanic community to understand about reading and to understand a little bit about the Olympic Games. It’s a great feeling when you go and represent your country and heritage back home. They all look up to you and have this great joy of knowing that a family member or a friend is participating in the Olympic Games. It’s a little thing to get the 12-year-olds interested in participating in the Olympic Games or picking up a sport.
Chicago 2016: What is your advice to young kids out there who want to become professional boxers?
David Diaz: Don’t do it, because then I’ll be out of a job. But seriously, think about it. Boxing is a rough sport. You have to be able to take a good hit and not care that much. I would encourage young athletes to follow their dreams and do what they want to do. I’m glad that I kept doing my sport because at the age of 30 I became a world champion, which is old for lightweight boxing. Just go for it and don’t let anybody tell you no.
Chicago 2016 Well Well Prepared for 2008 Paralympic Games
The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games dominates the news in Paralympic Sport and Accessibility, and Chicago 2016 is well represented at the Games and with the athletes.
Chicago 2016 Vice President Linda Mastandrea will lead a delegation of the Paralympic Advisory Council to the Paralympic Games in Beijing in September. The delegation will use their experiences, as well as those of the athletes, to help finalize Chicago 2016’s plans for the Paralympic Games. In addition to Linda’s Chicago 2016 duties, as a Paralympian gold medalist she will also provide guidance and support to current U.S. Paralympic competitors while in Beijing.
Chicago 2016 also sent staffers Kara Bachman and Jeff Schell to Colorado Springs, Colorado, from August 19 to 21 for the U.S. Paralympic processing event and sendoff in advance of the Beijing Paralympic Games. Our team wished the Paralympians well on behalf of Chicago 2016, presented Paralympians with Chicago 2016 apparel and updated the Paralympians about the bid’s progress.
During the two-day event, Jeff and Kara spoke with more than 150 U.S. Paralympians. The response of Paralympians to our bid efforts was overwhelmingly positive, and many of the athletes even offered to volunteer for the bid after returning from the Paralympic Games in Beijing.
In related news, the International Paralympic Committee has launched a dedicated channel on YouTube that will feature a selection of clips from its internet channel ParalympicSport.tv as well as user-generated videos. ParalympicSport.tv also has its own page on YouTube, so be sure to visit that page for news and updates.
Athlete of the Month: Christine Magnuson
Unique — with a silver lining. That’s how swimmer Christine Magnuson describes her trip to her first Olympic Games in Beijing.
The 22-year-old, born in Palos Heights and raised in Tinley Park, won the silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly, finishing behind Australia’s Lisbeth Trickett in a time of 57.10 seconds. Christine also swam the butterfly leg on the silver medal–winning 4 x 100-meter medley relay team of backstroke specialist Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni and freestyler Dara Torres at the National Aquatics Center, also known as the “Water Cube.”
The Olympic Games are “the most unique and rewarding experience I’ve had in my career,” Magnuson said. “[It was] great to experience how all the countries come together through sport.”
Magnuson surprised many observers in the butterfly, where she set an American record in the semifinals. She broke Coughlin’s mark of 57.34 with a time of 57.08. During the finals, she was in third place behind eventual bronze medalist Jessicah Schipper of Australia until after she completed her turn and swam the fastest second half of the race to the finish.
“I [wish] I had a better turn in the 100 fly,” she said. “After my 100 fly, I looked into the stands and [saw] the happiness on the faces of my coach, Matt Kredich, my parents and sister, my teammates and other people that I’ve become close with.”
Magnuson played several different sports growing up, including volleyball and water polo. But she excelled in swimming despite spreading her talent around. She won back-to-back 100-yard freestyle titles at the Illinois State Swimming Championships in 2002 and 2003 while a student at Andrew High School.
Earlier this season, she won the 100-meter butterfly at both the 2008 NCAA Championships for the University of Tennessee and the U.S. Olympic Trials. Named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Female Swimmer of the Year and Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year, she now has added two Olympic medals.
“The medals don’t only represent how I did at the Games but also all the support I’ve had along the way.”
The friendships made during the Games are one of the biggest takeaways: Christine treasures “the lasting friendships I’ve developed with my teammates and the ones I’m developing with foreign athletes now that I’m done competing and have time to spend with them.”
Before the Beijing Games, Magnuson wasn’t certain about her swimming future. Just two years ago, she hadn’t even competed in an international event. Now future Olympic Games don’t seem to be out of the question. She likes the idea of the Games in her hometown.
“Having the Games on the lakefront would be an amazing setting,” she said. “Chicago has everything to offer to tourists and athletes from around the world.”
Christine hopes to get some needed rest and is looking forward to getting back to Tennessee, where she now resides. But she’s in no hurry.
“I look forward to going home to Chicago to see friends and family and back to Knoxville where I went to school,” said the exercise science major. “I’m going to make appearances, do media and travel a little bit.”
Athletes of the Month: Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser
The U.S. team of Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser defeated Brazil’s Marcio Araujo and Fabio Luiz Magalhaes 23–21, 17–21, 15–4, for the gold medal at Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground.
First-time Olympians Rogers, 34, and Dalhausser, 28, jumped out to an 11–2 lead in the third and decisive game with their complementary play—Dalhausser with the power block, Rogers with the perfectly placed touch shots.
The Brazilians seemed rattled, committing unforced errors as the U.S. team ran away with the third set that saw Dalhausser knock over Rogers with a ferocious chest bump on match point.
With Rogers’ and Dalhausser’s gold medal, U.S. teams have now won five golds, two silvers and a bronze in four Summer Games since the sport made its Olympic debut.
The U.S. pair caught a break by losing their first match to 23rd-seeded Latvia, avoiding a match with the tough Brazilians or any team seeded higher than eighth before the finals.
The Latvia loss did, however, snap the Americans’ 21-match international win streak, one short of a 9-year-old beach volleyball record. But Rogers and Dalhausser won every match en route to the final.
Read in-depth profile on Dalhausser and Rogers.
World Sport Chicago Update
People from throughout the Midwest took advantage of the warm weather in Chicago and competed in a volleyball tournament on Saturday, August 2. World Sport Chicago helped to sponsor the 2008 USA Junior National Beach Tour. WSC also helped bring elite Paralympic sailors from around the country together in early August for one of the top Paralympic regattas in the country.
Athletes gathered at North Avenue Beach Saturday morning for the volleyball tournament. The event set records in terms of enrollment. Approximately 75 two-person teams preregistered, and a total of 90 teams competed. The junior-level beach tournament was the largest such competition ever to take place outside of California or Florida. The event featured both boys and girls competitions, with brackets for the U14, U16, U18 and U20 divisions. Each bracket had a medal ceremony for the winners.
Also on August 2, WSC teamed up with the Chicago Yacht Club to sponsor the 2008 North American Challenge Cup Regatta for sailors with disabilities at Belmont Harbor. Members of the U.S. Disabled Sailing Team and other North American disabled sailors, including Paralympians, gathered to participate in the sailing regatta, which Chicago has hosted for 16 years.
For the fall, WSC is sponsoring a series of youth programs to promote involvement in sports such as wrestling, gymnastics, badminton and track and field. Visit the World Sport Chicago website for more details.
In addition, mark October 18 on your calendar for the “Mayor’s Science in the City” expo. WSC is hosting this year’s event, which will focus on the science of sport. Make plans now to come to Malcolm X College for an interesting, insightful and exciting day.
Chicago 2016 in the Community
While members of the Chicago 2016 staff accompanied Team USA to Beijing, the Community Relations and Events teams took an active role in Chicago, participating in three to four events each week during August. An example of a typical week included multiple presentations to meetings with aldermen and community groups, a booth at Ukrainian Fest, staff kicking off the Partnership in Action Walk and several more volunteers assisting with the execution of the Chicago Triathlon.
One of the most notable event that Chicago 2016 was proud to participate in was the 79th annual Bud Billiken Day Parade held on August 9. The Bud Billiken Day Parade attracts more than 1 million people to its parade route on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, making it the second-largest annual parade in the United States. The festivities included marching bands, demonstrations and dance groups; Chicago 2016 brought its float, street team and a group of Olympic hopefuls out to celebrate the occasion.
Visit our Community Corner for an updated calendar of events.