“The headline should be: Rio won the bid. Chicago did not lose the bid and Chicago did not lose by bidding,” said Jim Scherr, whose forced resignation in March upset leaders of the various American Olympic teams.

Speaking at the Travel and Management Events in Sports convention in New Orleans on Wednesday, Scherr said Rio de Janeiro had advantages that Chicago couldn’t overcome.

For one, he said, many members of the International Olympic Committee believed it was time to grant the games to a city in South America, a continent that has never hosted an Olympics.

“The IOC and the IOC president Jacque Rogge wanted to plant the flag of the Olympic movement and the Olympic Games in South America,” Scherr said. “Jacque Rogge wanted that, I believe, as part of his legacy as president of the IOC, to go to another continent with the Olympic Games.”

Scherr also noted that organizers in Brazil had steadily refined their bid for a decade, having failed to win the 2004 and 2012 Games, giving them an advantage in forming relationships and dealing with IOC members.

“They were in the process far longer than Chicago and any of the other cities. They paid their dues,” Scherr said. “They were there for a very long time. They learned the game. They knew the game and they stayed with it. They stayed consistent with their bid and continued to correct deficiencies that the IOC saw in their bid.”

Scherr led the USOC for six years, taking over shortly after the Salt Lake City bid scandal. A former Olympic wrestler, Scherr was well liked by the leaders of various U.S. Olympic sports teams.

When he resigned, he was replaced by Stephanie Streeter, a USOC board member. She had immediate critics within the Olympic movement, who questioned how someone who had a hand in forcing Scherr out could then slide into the job he left. Streeter stepped down shortly after Chicago was eliminated in the first round of IOC voting this month.

USOC proposals to start its own Olympic TV network and international resentment over the relatively large share of Olympic revenues that go to the American committee have strained relations in recent years.

Scherr stressed, however, that problems with USOC-IOC relations go back further.

“This wasn’t something new in the last six or seven months,” Scherr said. “The Salt Lake City bid scandal, what the IOC felt was the over-commercialized Atlanta Games, the Iraq War, America’s role in the global economy … All of these issues have affected the USOC and its standing in the IOC for a long time.

“If the United States chooses to bid again, it’s going to be a very long and difficult process to address those issues so that a U.S. city really has equal footing and an opportunity to win the right to host an Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Scherr, who is launching a new business called 776 Original Marketing — a nod to the first Olympics in 776 B.C. — said he hoped Chicago would bid again, stressing that, by all accounts, the city “had the best bid in the history of the United States.”

“It’s a shame that the world won’t be coming to Chicago in 2016 because Chicago is the ideal city to host an Olympic games,” Scherr said. “I’d love for them to keep going in 2020.”

Former US Olympic Committee CEO Insists “Rio Won the Bid, Chicago Did Not Lose the Bid” at TEAMS 2009 Conference | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Their dreams of hosting the 2016 Olympics dashed, members of Chicago’s bid team found themselves facing unemployment following the International Olympic Committee’s selection of Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 2.

During the eight-hour trip home, supporters who traveled to Copenhagen began asking 2016 staffers about their futures, illustrating what should be a considerable advantage as they re-enter the labor force:

Having worked closely with a bid committee of nearly 400 civic leaders and donors from Chicago’s corporate and philanthropic communities, the Olympics crew should “be able to get in front of the right people,” says James Drury, CEO of Chicago-based James Drury Partners LLC, which recruits executives and board members.

“These are people who took a risk and did something for the greater good,” Mr. Drury says. “And they wouldn’t have been picked if they weren’t good at what they do. Those are the kinds of people that leaders of businesses look for.”

A few top staffers, such as President Lori Healey, 49, a City Hall veteran who most recently was the mayor’s chief of staff, polished their already formidable reputations working on the bid. Ms. Healey has been employed in both the private and public sectors, as a former city planning commissioner who later went to architecture firm Perkins & Will Inc. She declined to comment on her plans.

For younger staffers, the bid could provide a much bigger career boost, helping separate them from the crowd.

“A lot of times, it’s difficult to go from doing analysis to a leadership role,” says Kurt Summers, 30, a one-time consultant who left a job as chief financial officer at Balton Corp., a small Chicago supplier to food-service and janitorial companies, to become Ms. Healey’s chief of staff. “Previous jobs were solving a business or financial problem. This one was broader: government and international relations, messaging.”

Mr. Summers says he does not have firm plans yet.

“It’s like a political campaign: It’s amazing how quickly things wind down,” says Scott Leff, 44, a former McKinsey & Co. consultant who helped write the bid book. He’ll be out of a job Thursday, along with most of the 50 or so full-time 2016 staff.

While running an Olympics bid is unique, the skills “will translate very well to the corporate world,” says Carlos Cata, a Chicago-based managing partner at recruiter Heidrick & Struggles International Inc.

“The opportunity to meet so many of Chicago’s community and corporate leaders was phenomenal,” says John Murray, director of bid operations, who left McKinsey to join the bid in 2006. He says he’ll likely return to the private sector but will look for an opportunity to support civic causes.

Others who were on loan to the bid team will slide back into their old jobs. Patrick Sandusky, 34, who headed communications at 2016, will return to the Chicago office of public relations firm Hill & Knowlton Inc. and decide what to do next.

LOOKING FOR NEXT GIG

But the bid experience opens new doors for some. Cassandra Francis, 44, left Chicago-based real estate developer U.S. Equities Realty LLC to oversee development of the athletes’ village.

She says that with the real estate market in a slump, she’ll also look at non-profits or sports management.

Lori Igelski, 46, left a banking career and oversaw volunteers, hospitality events and hotel guarantees that would have been needed had the city won the games. “I’d like to do something around raising the city’s international profile, maybe attracting other international sports and meetings,” she says.

Several executives who were between jobs and served as advisers to the bid will pick up job searches again. Joe Ahern, 64, who was ousted last year as general manager of WBBM-TV/Channel 2, says he plans to stay in town but isn’t sure what his next gig will be.

Wally Hayward, 41, founder of sports-marketing firm Relay Worldwide, says, “I had a few things I was working on that I put on hold to join 2016. It will be something in the sports industry.”

Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Team Now Unemployed, In Search of New Jobs | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Scherr, whose surprise resignation in March 2009 came during a crucial phase of the bid process, will offer his insights on what went wrong to the attendees of the world’s largest gathering of event organizers and travel planners from the sports-event industry.

“Many in the U.S. Olympic movement were disappointed when Jim resigned as CEO of the USOC,” said Timothy Schneider, publisher of SportsTravel magazine, which organizes TEAMS.

“Several observers were concerned that the change at the top of our National Olympic Committee would have a negative impact on Chicago’s chances. It will be fascinating to hear Jim’s take on the factors that caused Chicago to be eliminated in the first round of voting.”

Attendees at TEAMS 2009 will also hear Scherr’s views on Rio de Janeiro’s successful bid and how the first South American city to host the Summer Games will fare.

Scherr will provide an update on preparations for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Lastly, Scherr will discuss the final changes to the Summer Games program approved by the IOC in Copenhagen.

The TEAMS Conference & Expo is organized by Schneider Publishing, the Los Angeles-based company that publishes SportsTravel and Association Newsmagazines.

Earlier this year, TEAMS was named one of the 50 fastest-growing trade shows across all categories by Tradeshow Week magazine for the fifth time. For further information on the TEAMS Conference & Expo or the conference program, please call toll-free 877-577-3700 or visit TEAMSconference.com.

TEAMS: Travel, Events And Management in Sports is the annual conference and trade show for the global sports-event and travel industries. Established in 1998, TEAMS is the world’s largest gathering of sports-event organizers.

For further information on the TEAMS Conference & Expo, SportsTravel andAssociation News, please call toll-free (877) 577-3700 or visit SchneiderPublishing.com.

TEAMS 2009 will be held October 13-17, 2009, in New Orleans. For more information, please visit TEAMSconference.com.

About SportsTravel Magazine

SportsTravel is the sports world’s event magazine. Founded in 1997,SportsTravel was the first magazine to identify and serve the sports-related travel and event industry.

Published 10 times a year, SportsTravel is the authoritative source of information for those responsible for deciding where sporting events are held and travel planning for sports-related groups.

The readers of SportsTravel generate 47 million hotel room nights annually. For more information, visit the magazine’s website at SportsTravelMagazine.com.

SportsTravel and TEAMS are registered trademarks of Los Angeles-based Schneider Publishing Company, Inc. For further information on advertising or sponsorship opportunities, please call toll-free (877) 577-3700 or +1 (310) 577-3700 if calling from outside the U.S.A.

For additional press information or to request press credentials for TEAMS 2009, please contact Elissa Fairchild at 310-577-3700 or Elissa.Fairchild@SchneiderPublishing.com

Former U.S. Olympic Committee CEO to Address Chicago’s 2016 Bid Failure at the TEAMS 2009 Conference Oct. 14 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Many of the International Olympic Committee voters who said they would support Chicago likely threw their first-round votes to the three other competing cities, Chicago 2016 CEO Patrick G. Ryan told Executives’ Club of Chicago members. Many of those members had written checks to support the bid.

Chicago ended up losing in a shockingly lopsided first-round vote, garnering only 18 of the 94 votes.

“Here’s where the miscalculation came: People who committed to (voting for) us thought, ‘Chicago is strong enough, they don’t need me until the second round,’ ” Mr. Ryan said Tuesday morning at the Sheraton Chicago hotel, in his first local public appearance since Friday’s vote in Copenhagen. “It’s not a cop-out. It’s just reality.”

The bigger factor in Chicago’s loss is that the IOC was ready to take the games to South America for the first time, a gesture not unlike the effort that brought the games to Beijing in 2008.

“Once the leadership of the IOC thought going to South America was a risk worth taking . . . it’s judgment made: People say they’re ready,” Mr. Ryan said.

In hindsight, the signs were unmistakable that the IOC wanted to extend its brand to South America, one of two continents that have never hosted the games. The IOC overcame concerns about Rio’s crime, infrastructure and other issues that led it to bypass the Brazilian city’s two previous bids.

Mr. Ryan pointed out that Doha, Qatar, which would have been the first Arab site for the Olympics, placed fourth in the technical evaluations, ahead of Rio, before the IOC made its final cut of candidate cities in June 2008. When the IOC released its final evaluation report after visiting the final four — Chicago, Rio, Tokyo and Madrid — there was little mention of Rio’s challenges, even crime.

Several longtime Olympics observers said changes at the U. S. Olympic Committee in the months before Friday’s vote cost Chicago dearly with the IOC, reigniting resentment over the outsize share of television revenue the U.S. receives from the Olympics. A surprise announcement in July by the USOC that it would launch its own TV network, without approval from the IOC, only aggravated the matter. The IOC had sought to ease the tension in the spring by delaying negotiations over future revenue sharing until after the vote.

“Obviously, there were too many people who said they accepted that (resolution), but obviously didn’t,” Mr. Ryan said. “That was a Hatfield-and-McCoy deal before we got into (the bidding).”

Mr. Ryan, who founded Chicago-based insurance brokerage Aon Corp., had little appetite for reliving the loss Tuesday. Like Mayor Richard M. Daley, who also addressed the breakfast meeting of business leaders, he didn’t point fingers.

“Was it worth it? The answer is a resounding yes,” he said of the three-year, $77-million effort to land the games. “Chicago has taken its rightful place as a global city.”

He said other legacies include the redevelopment of the former Michael Reese Hospital site, which will go forward, though the plans and timetable are unclear. And he said World Sport Chicago, a non-profit effort to involve youth in sports, will continue as a separate organization.

“If you don’t try, you fail,” said Mr. Daley, who praised Mr. Ryan for his commitment in leading the bid, even as the mayor laid the groundwork to rally business leaders to the next civic cause. “We will take this energy and use it for other purposes, such as our schools, crime or economic development.”

Chicago 2016 CEO Patrick Ryan Calls Olympic Bid Strategy a “Miscaluclation,” But Asserts Bid Leaders Have No Regrets | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Chicago 2016, the high-powered civic committee that has worked on the city’s bid for three years, is expected to lay off most of its 57 paid staffers by the end of October. A small group is expected to remain through year-end as it winds down operations.

In a “stewardship report” issued in late August, the committee disclosed that it has raised $76.9 million from July 2006 through last June 30. All the money was from private donations.

The 39-page report included a brief mention of how it would close shop after an unsuccessful bid. Chicago was the first city to be voted out of contention Friday by the International Olympic Committee, meeting in Copenhagen. The 2016 Summer Games were bestowed on Rio de Janiero, and bids from Madrid and Tokyo also were denied.

Chicago 2016 said it spent $48.3 million in pursuit of the bid and donated $13 million to World Sports Chicago, a new organization intended as a legacy of the quest for the Games. World Sports Chicago is supposed to help Chicago-area youth find Olympic and Paralympic sports near their homes.

Money left over from the Chicago 2016 shutdown likewise would be routed to World Sports Chicago. How much that might be isn’t known. Chicago 2016 officials, several of whom were en route home from Copenhagen, could not be reached Sunday.

Executive salaries at Chicago 2016 reached a high of $300,000 a year, paid to Chief Operating Officer David Bolger. The group’s president, Lori Healey, was among three staffers earning $250,000 a year.

Citing other salaries among nonprofit employers, Chicago 2016 said in its report that its pay packages were reasonable.

Chicago 2016 Chairman Patrick Ryan, the founding chairman of insurance broker Aon Corp., took no pay. Chicago 2016 said he and his wife were entitled to fly first-class for free on bid-related business, but that Ryan picked up 70 percent of the cost.

Over its three years, Chicago 2016 reported paying $9.5 million to staff and contractors. It said that as of June 30, it had 20 employees loaned to it and paid by others, 32 volunteers, 12 contractors and 32 interns.

Chicago 2016 Nonprofit Organization Going Out of Business, Downsizing Most of Its Staff by End of October | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Soccer Players Posing at the World Sport Chicago 2009 World Cup

World Sport Chicago was founded in connection with the 2016 Olympic bid to promote youth sports programs in Chicago’s parks and public schools.

Chicago 2016, which organized Chicago’s Olympics bid, raised $72.8 million in cash, slightly more than it expected.

The bid team expected to spend all but $13 million in its pursuit of hosting the 31st Olympiad, with the balance going to World Sport Chicago.

That’s higher than the $12.4 million initially anticipated, but far less than what World Sport might have gotten had Chicago been chosen to host the 2016 Summer Olympics and had stayed on budget.

The $225-million profit from the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 bankrolled LA 84, a similar youth-sport initiative, which continues to operate today.

About World Sport Chicago

World Sport Chicago (WSC) is an Illinois not-for-profit working to enhance the image, awareness and participation in Olympic sports across Chicago and to extend Chicago’s international outreach through and for sport and youth.

Focused on promoting the development of recreational and competitive sport to the area’s youth, WSC works closely with Chicago 2016 and Chicago’s 2016’s Athlete Advisory Council (AAC) to provide sport expertise and athlete insight to the execution of these sporting events.

WSC intends to aid Chicago in developing a sustainable, international sporting legacy as a real agent of social change for the city.

William Scherr, an Olympic medalist in wrestling, is chairman of the board and Scott Myers serves as the executive director.

About Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Delegation

Chicago 2016 is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission was 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 academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region.

Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Chicago 2016 Media Line, +1 312-861-4826
media@chicago2016.org

Private Funds Raised for Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Efforts Given to Non-Profit Group World Sport Chicago | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The vote in Copenhagen was carried on huge television screens set up in the Daley Center to carry what many had hoped would be approval of Chicago as the host city. It had seemed so likely to many in a city still basking in the glow of hometown Sen. Barack Obama’s election as president.

Instead, Chicago was bounced in the first round, bringing an audible gasp from the crowd.

The elimination came so quickly — more than an hour before the scheduled final announcement — that people were still excitedly talking among themselves when IOC President Jacques Rogge appeared in the screens to announce: “The city of Chicago, having obtained the least number of votes, will not participate in the next round.”

Many weren’t sure what Rogge had said, and turned to each other to ask.

Some just stood for a few minutes, staring at the screens, and at least one flung his hands into the air in a crude gesture toward the TVs. Within seconds, people began filing out of the plaza.

Behind them, the screen listed the cities still in contention Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro, with a blank space where the word “Chicago” had been moments earlier.

“I’ve never really had a disappointment like this,” said Ken Rudd, a 33-year-old salesman from Evergreen Park. “This is one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen.”

Katie Suitor, a 28-year-old social worker, was equally surprised, saying that she had already signed up to work as a volunteer for the games.

“I was looking forward to having the world come and see just how great Chicago is,” she said.

The IOC decision was a major blow to Mayor Richard M. Daley, who spent three years working, cajoling and insisting that the games would be a boon for his city.

The 67-year-old Daley, who has been in office for 20 years, was already grappling with low approval ratings, though it was an open question whether a winning Olympics bid would help or hurt those numbers.

The IOC had traditionally partnered with governments where strong leaders like Daley are in control. That wasn’t the case here and the Olympics will likely not be part of Daley’s legacy.

The Chicago bid had plenty of homegrown firepower, from Oprah Winfrey right on up to Obama and the first lady, South Side native Michelle Obama.

All were in Copenhagen ahead of the vote and the first couple gave presentations to the IOC earlier Friday, though the president left hours before the voting began.

Randy Wood, 49, of San Diego said the IOC clearly wasn’t swayed by Obama’s influence.

“Maybe his clout stopped at the Pacific and the Atlantic,” said Wood, who said the early elimination reflects poorly on the president.

With Chicago well-known for public corruption and problems with public services, opponents had serious concerns about Olympics-sized hassles and bills, despite assurances by city officials that taxpayers wouldn’t owe a dime.

A recent poll by the Chicago Tribune showed residents almost evenly split, with 47 percent in favor of the bid and 45 percent against; that’s a drop from the 2-1 support the newspaper found in a February poll.

The 2016 bid committee said its own poll last week found support from 72 percent of Chicagoans.

The news that Chicago had been eliminated was greeted with surprise in Rio.

“Wow, we never thought Chicago would get out in the first round,” said 29-year-old Rio resident Leandro Cruz, one of tens of thousands of people gathered on Copacabana beach. “Everybody thought it would be Chicago and Rio until the very end.”

International Olympic Committee Eliminates Chicago From Hosting 2016 Olympic Games in First Round of Voting | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Thanks also to the International Olympic Committee for giving us the opportunity to compete against these world-class cities on the world stage.

While we were not fortunate enough to be selected as Host City, Chicago has won in many other ways.

The city and nation united behind our bid.

The international competition raised Chicago’s profile as a world-class city.

Countless businesses and philanthropic organizations helped stage events that inspired young people to engage in sport.

And the bid’s legacy organization, World Sport Chicago, will continue to reach thousands of youth in the years to come.

As a direct result of the bid, more than 300,000 Chicago youth have already begun to realize the benefits of the Olympic Movement through activities and educational programs.

Be sure to continue to visit World Sport Chicago to find out more about the lasting positive legacy our bid has created for the city.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Chicago 2016 over the years!

About Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Delegation

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 academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Chicago 2016 Media Line, +1 312-861-4826
media@chicago2016.org

Official “Thank You” Message From Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Delegation | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The president, who flew overnight from Washington and went straight into the International Olympic Committee session, stressed that Chicago was the place both he and the First Lady called home.

The IOC will choose between Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo in a vote at the end of a day of presentations by the four candidates.

“I come here today as a passionate supporter of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as a strong believer in the movement they represent and as a proud Chicagoan,” Obama, the last speaker in Chicago’s 45-minute presentation, said as he opened his address.

Obama said he had lived and traveled in many different places in the world. “Then I came to Chicago. And on those Chicago streets, I worked alongside men and women who were black and white, Latino and Asian, people of every class and nationality and religion.

“I came to discover that Chicago is that most American of American cities but one where citizens from more than 130 nations inhabit a rich tapestry of distinctive neighborhoods.”

Obama, the first sitting U.S. president to address the IOC, said: “I’ve come here today to urge you to choose Chicago for the same reason I chose Chicago nearly twenty-five years ago, the reason I fell in love with the city I still call home.

“And it’s not only because it’s where I met the woman you just heard from, though after getting to know her this week, I’m sure you will all agree that she’s a pretty big selling point for the city.”

The First Lady has been in the Danish capital for two days to lobby IOC members for their votes.

Michelle Obama, dressed all in yellow, preceded her husband and spoke passionately about sitting on her father’s knee as a child to watch and take inspiration from the Olympics and the performances of gymnasts Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci and athlete Carl Lewis.

She said her late father, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, would have been proud to see an Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago.

“He never stopped playing with us. He refused to let us take our abilities for granted … he taught me to throw a ball and a mean right hook better than any boy in our neighborhood,” the First Lady said.

“He taught us the fundamental rules of the game, to engage with honor, with dignity and fair play. My dad was my hero and when I think of what these Games can mean to people I think of people like my dad, people who whatever the problems, would never let go, would work a little harder, would never give up.”

As Obama left with his wife, he told a throng of reporters: “I think Chicago could not have made a better presentation. Now it is up to the IOC. We are grateful for the hospitality. The only thing I am upset about is that they arranged for me to follow Michelle. That is always bad.”

Doug Arnot, senior vice-president of the Chicago delegation, said: “It was incredibly special for us to be there with the President and First Lady. I could not be prouder for the whole team. The presentation was never intended to be a show, it was supposed to be a heartfelt discussion with the IOC. When you watched the eyes of the IOC members they were focused.”

Chicago’s videos and slideshow presentations stressed Chicago’s waterfront location on Lake Michigan, its architecture and monuments and the spirit of togetherness.

Other Chicago speakers, including Mayor Richard Daley, assured the IOC that Chicago would be a perfect partner to host “your Games.”

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Back the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid in Copenhagen | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“Of course, we all hope to be celebrating the 2016 Summer Games coming to our city, but win or lose, the free 14-ounce coffee is Dunkin’ Donuts’ way of saying thank you to Chicago for all the support and hard work in showcasing our city,” said Kathy Nowicki, field marketing manager for Dunkin’ Donuts.

The free medium coffee is available all day, Oct. 5, at all of the nearly 500 Dunkin’ Donuts locations in Chicago and suburbs.

No purchase necessary and limit one per customer.

Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin’ Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.

For more information, visit DunkinDonuts.com.

Chicago Area Dunkin’ Donuts to Celebrate Chicago 2016 Effort with Free Medium Coffee Offer Monday, Oct. 5 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

During this time, two CTA bus routes will be detoured to adjacent streets to maintain service.

Southbound #22 Clark and #24 Wentworth buses will travel over their regular routes along Clark to Randolph then will operate via Randolph, LaSalle, Monroe to Clark and then resume their regular routes. Northbound #22 and #24 buses are not affected and will travel over their regular routes.

Reroutes for Additional Street Closures

In the event the Chicago Police Department requires the closure of additional streets near Daley Plaza, the following reroutes will be in effect:

Closure of Dearborn Street between Washington and Randolph

Northbound #22 Clark, #36 Broadway and #62 Archer buses will travel over their regular routes along Dearborn to Monroe then will operate via Monroe, State, Wacker to Dearborn and then resume their regular routes. Southbound #36 and #62 buses are not affected and will travel over their regular routes.

Northbound #24 Wentworth buses will operate over the regular route along Dearborn to Monroe then will travel via Monroe, State to Wacker and then resume the regular route west of Dearborn.

Closure of Washington Street between Clark and Dearborn

Eastbound #20 Madison, #X20 Washington/Madison Express, #60 Blue Island/26th and #157 Streeterville/Taylor buses will travel over their regular routes along Washington to LaSalle then will operate via LaSalle, Monroe, State to Washington and then resume their regular routes.

Westbound #20, #X20, #60 and #157 buses are not affected and will travel over their regular routes.

Southbound #56 Milwaukee buses will operate over the regular route along Washington to LaSalle then will travel via LaSalle, Monroe, State to Washington and then resume the regular route.

Northbound #56 buses are not affected and will travel over the regular route.

Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. Estimated arrival times for buses that are temporarily rerouted are not available via the Bus Tracker Web site.

For more information about all CTA routes and schedules, call 836-7000 (all local area codes) or visit the Web site at transitchicago.com.

Buses Detoured Near Daley Plaza for Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Live Viewing Event on Friday | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“Two weeks from today the International Olympic Committee will select the next host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Mayor Daley. “That’s why today, with great excitement, we are celebrating Jesse Owens’ impact to our city and to the Olympic Movement by dedicating this Olympic-themed playground and new field house in his honor.”

Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany. He first gained national attention in Chicago in 1933, when he equaled the world 100-yard dash record in the National High School Championship meet.

“Throughout his life, he embodied the commitment of the Olympic Movement to young people, and Chicago keeps his memory alive not only with this park where young people play, compete and learn the values of sport, but also at the Jesse Owens Community Academy where young people learn,” said Mayor Daley.

Plans for the new fully accessible playground were announced by Allstate and the USOC in 2008, during the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Chicago.

The playground not only serves as a fun and safe place to play for local children and future Olympians and Paralympians, but also as a symbol of commitment to enhancing Chicago-area communities.

“The ‘Little Hands’ Playground is the first Olympic-themed playground in our city,” said Mayor Daley. “I’d like to thank Allstate for this state-of-the-art facility and for its commitment to promoting the Olympic Movement and enhancing our neighborhoods.”

The playground features competition stations throughout the playground with Olympic-inspired artwork by Chicago Art Group, a spray pool, Olympic medallions referencing important statistical Olympic records, a track-themed pathway bordering the playground, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility.

“Allstate is committed to improving Chicago’s neighborhoods and our longstanding partnership with the City of Chicago and the USOC has allowed us to leave this physical Olympic legacy for the City of Chicago,” said Alice Byrne, Field Vice President, Allstate Midwest Region. “It is our hope that the ‘Little Hands’ Playground will provide a healthy and safe environment for children to play and envision their own Olympic dreams.

The field house features a competition-sized gymnasium, fitness and club rooms, locker rooms, administrative support offices, central air conditioning, and is fully ADA accessible.

The building was designed to achieve a Silver rating under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System. Some of green elements of the building include a green roof, efficient lighting systems and a reflective roof and paving, which contributes less urban heat island effect.

Funds for the 18,500-square-foot field house were provided with $3.5 million from the state, $3.2 million from the city, and $3 million from proceeds from the Chicago Park District’s lease of its parking garages.

“This is a banner day for us,” said Parks Superintendent Tim Mitchell. “In these tough economic times, the Chicago Park District could not afford to bring projects like these to deserving communities alone.

Thanks to the public-private partnership that has brought together the City of TIF funds, State Rep Colvin’s member initiative funds, and a private donation from the Allstate Foundation and the USOC, we realize more than $9 million dollars in improvements to this park.”

“Jesse Owens is an iconic Olympian and important part of Chicago’s connection to the Olympic Movement,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “We are excited to take part in such a heartwarming occasion—dedicating this wonderful park that will bring a new play space to our youth—and celebrating and honoring his life.”

With the announcement of the Host City for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games two weeks away, the opening of the playground and new field house is the latest catalyst to support Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Games.

“Allstate has been a longtime, supportive partner to the USOC and has shown a tremendous commitment to the Olympic Movement,” said USOC Acting Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Streeter. “Through programs like the ‘Little Hands’ Playgrounds, Allstate is spreading the Olympic spirit and active living opportunities to youth in Chicago. This playground is a shining example of the legacy of the Chicago 2016 bid, just as it’s a vision of the legacy the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will leave for the youth of Chicago. The USOC extends our gratitude to Allstate and the City of Chicago for all they are doing to spread the Olympic spirit and to help make Chicago a true ‘playground of sport.’

Also in attendance at the dedication were Chicago Park District Superintendent Tim Mitchell, Allstate Field Vice President Alice Byrne, USOC Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Baird, Board Chair, Chicago Park District Bob Pickens, Board President of the Chicago Park District Gery Chico, Public Building Commission Executive Director Erin Lavin, Director of Paralympic Sport and Accessibility for Chicago for Chicago 2016 Linda Mastandrea, Olympian Diane Simpson (Gymnastics 1988), Olympian Willie May (Athletics, 1960), Ann Swisshelm, Olympian (Curling 2002) and members of the Jesse Owens family.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their contributions for helping to make this new and improved park a reality,” said Mayor Daley. “This refurbished park is a good example of the private and public sector working to benefit our city.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mayor’s Press Office, 312-744-3334

Olympic-Themed Jesse Owens Park Playground and Field House Dedication | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

First lady Michelle Obama arrives in Copenhagen today ahead of Friday's vote.

IOC members settling into their hotel in Copenhagen on Wednesday told The Associated Press that Tokyo, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Chicago are all capable of hosting the Games and there is no clear favorite.

Samih Moudallal, an IOC member since 1998, described Friday’s vote as like choosing between “four sons or your brothers.”

IOC Vice-President Chiharu Igaya said “many” are undecided and will make their choice only after the final presentations Friday.

Willi Kaltschmitt, an IOC member for more than 20 years, said possibly half or more of his 105 colleagues remain undecided.

The contest between front-runners Chicago and Rio de Janeiro is thought to be very close, so personal appeals to IOC members from Mrs. Obama and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva could prove decisive.

The other two bidding cities, Madrid and Tokyo, are thought to be trailing but have not given up. King Juan Carlos’ arrival likely will bolster the Spanish capital’s bid.

Japan’s new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, is also awaited – although the Tokyo bid committee isn’t yet saying when he will arrive.

Mrs. Obama planned to get right to work on trying to sway the vote Chicago’s way. Her schedule had her meeting with IOC members within hours of her arrival on Wednesday morning.

Silva arrives in the afternoon and is also expected to meet with IOC members.

IOC votes – by secret ballot over several rounds – can be highly unpredictable. Aside from the paramount questions of whether bidding cities’ Olympic plans are technically and financially feasible, emotion, sentiment, geography, politics, self-interest and other factors also play a role.

Blair traveled to Singapore ahead of the vote and spent two days lobbying IOC members, inviting them to his hotel suite for one-on-one meetings.

Chicago has torn a leaf from Blair’s playbook: Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett met with him last week to solicit his advice and get tips on navigating the IOC voting process.

Ultimately, the biggest choice for the IOC’s 106 members may be deciding what statement they want to send to the world.

Giving the Olympics to South America for the first time would be bold and, Rio argues, even transformational. IOC members acknowledge the appeal of taking the games to unchartered territory. Rio’s plans are technically strong, too.

“Policy wise, the IOC has to decide if we’re ready to go to a new continent,” longtime IOC member Dick Pound said recently. “That’s the biggest paradigm shift. Is the time right?”

Sending the games to Chicago, on the other hand, could perhaps prove more lucrative and safe. It is possible that in these precarious times of global recession, IOC members will find the familiarity of the United States – which last held the Olympics in 1996 in Atlanta – to be comforting.

Chicago also has emotional pull in the shape of President Barack Obama. Should he win a second term in office, a Chicago Games in 2016 could offer a celebratory and spectacular backdrop for his final year as the first black U.S. president.

Obama is coming in person to Copenhagen to try to secure the games for his adopted hometown. He will be here for a few hours on Friday – elevating the games to an issue of national importance but also exposing him to political risks.

The city receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated after each round Friday until one candidate secures a majority. The vote is expected to go the maximum three rounds.

Some members tend to vote out of sympathy in the first round, which can produce some surprises. The key to victory is picking up votes from the cities which go out.

If Tokyo were to go out in the first round, it is believed many of its votes would go to Chicago. If Madrid goes out, the consensus is they would go to Rio.

International Oympic Committee Members Still Undecided; First Lady Michelle Obama Arrives in Copenhagen | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The poll found that 72 percent of Chicagoans surveyed want the Games in Chicago, and nationally the figure is 82 percent.

One of the world’s foremost polling and market research firms, Zogby International has been tracking public opinion since 1984.

The results being announced today are from a Zogby poll that was conducted between September 22 and 25, with more than 700 Chicago-area respondents and more than 800 national respondents.

The Chicago poll surveyed adults in the Chicago DMA, and had a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points. The national poll surveyed adults in the U.S., and had a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points. Both polls were done by phone.

The poll was conducted following publication of a report by the Civic Federation of Chicago that described Chicago 2016’s operating budget as “fair and reasonable,” and a unanimous vote by the Chicago City Alderman to sign the International Olympic Committee Host City Contract, should Chicago be honored as host for the Games.

“We are gratified by these results and believe this poll reflects the excitement and enthusiasm people have for bringing the Games to Chicago in 2016,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “Moving into the last days of the bid and our final presentation to the International Olympic Committee, we appreciate the continued support, locally and nationally, for our efforts.”

Chicago 2016 will present to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on October 2. The 2016 Host City will be named on the evening of October 2. Chicago is competing for the honor of hosting the 2016 Games with Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Madrid.

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.

About Zogby International

Zogby International was established in 1984 and conducts surveys on such things as public opinion and electoral politics.

The company was engaged by the United States Olympic Committee to conduct the first poll of Chicago’s support level in April, 2007 in connection with the USOC’s process to select a U.S. city to seek the 2016 Games.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Chicago 2016 Media Line, +1 312-861-4826
media@chicago2016.org

New Poll Indicates Chicago’s Bid to Host the 2016 Olympic Games Supported Locally and Nationally | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Led by Chicago 2016 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Patrick G. Ryan, the Presentation Team rehearsed at the Kongebrogaarden Hotel in Jutland in Western Denmark. The location was chosen for its beauty, hospitality and proximity to Copenhagen.

Among the Chicago 2016 Presentation Team members participating in the rehearsals were Ryan, International Olympic Committee member Anita DeFrantz, and United States Olympic Committee First Vice President, International Bob Ctvrtlik. With the Presentation Team now in Copenhagen, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is also participating in rehearsals.

The entire Chicago 2016 Presentation Team will be announced at a later date.

“We extend our appreciation to our friends in Jutland, who were extremely generous in providing us with a warm, welcoming environment for these important rehearsals,” said Ryan. “Our goal was to prepare in a relaxed environment that allowed for maximum collaboration and teamwork, and that is exactly what we found in Jutland.”

“Our team now transitions from Jutland to Copenhagen with energy and enthusiasm, excited to share Chicago’s vision for hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games with members of the International Olympic Committee,” Ryan added.

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 academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region.

Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Chicago 2016 media line, +1.312.861.4826
media@chicago2016.org

Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Presentation Team Completes Off-Site Rehearsals in Jutland, Denmark | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

On Friday, Oct. 2, IOC members will elect the host city for the 2016 Summer Games.

President Obama will join First Lady Michelle Obama, who will be leading the United States delegation to Copenhagen.  Mrs. Obama will arrive in Copenhagen on Wednesday, Sept. 30, along with Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama and head of the White House Office on Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport.

President Obama will depart Washington on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 1 and arrive in Copenhagen on the morning of October 2 local time, just prior to Chicago’s presentation to the voting members of the IOC. He will arrive back in Washington on Friday afternoon.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will both make presentations to the IOC during Friday’s session.  They will discuss why Chicago is best to host the 2016 Summer Games, and how the United States is eager to bring the world together to celebrate the ideals of the Olympic movement.

While in Denmark, the President and First Lady will meet with Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness, the Prince Consort.  President Obama will also meet with Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

PLEASE NOTE: The White House is not responsible for press credentials for the IOC meeting in Copenhagen.  The credentialing process is being handled by the IOC, and credentialing is closed.

More details will be released when they become available.

President Obama Will Travel to Copenhagen, Join First Lady to Support Chicago’s Bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Today, Chicago 2016 announced that 26 Olympic and Paralympic athletes will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the city’s final presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“More than 2.500 athletes support Chicago 2016, and we have utilized their knowledge in all aspects of our bid—including insights into venue planning and athlete accommodations in our proposed Village, as well as to promote our bid across the United States and the world,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “We are honored to have so many athletes making the trip with us to Copenhagen for our presentation to the IOC to share their Olympic and Paralympic stories and to show their support for our bid.”

Olympians and Paralympians attending the events include: Willie Banks, Bob Berland, Brandi Chastain, Dragomir Cioroslan, Bryan Clay, Nadia Comaneci, Michael Conley, Bart Conner, Bob Ctvrtlik, Anita DeFrantz, Donna de Varona, David Diaz, Ron Freeman, Gary Hall, Jr., April Holmes, Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Nastia Liukin, Linda Mastandrea, Connie Moore, Paul Moran, Edwin Moses, Mike Plant, Bill Scherr, Diane Simpson and Kerri Walsh.

In addition to consulting on Chicago 2016’s Games plan, athletes have routinely helped promote Chicago’s bid at a variety of events, including festivals and parades in Chicago’s neighborhoods and at milestone events such as the IOC’s Evaluation Commission visit to Chicago in April.

For Olympic Day on June 23, more than 200 athletes attended celebrations across the United States, organized by Chicago 2016 and the U.S. Olympic Committee. During Olympic Week in America, more than 50 athletes attended events in Chicago, leading celebrations that included more than 230.000 Chicago Public School students.

Danish-native and former NFL player Morten Andersen, and retired NBA star Dikembe Mutombo will also travel to Copenhagen to show their support for Chicago’s bid.

In Copenhagen, athletes will attend many Chicago 2016 Supporter events, and some will be part of Chicago 2016’s delegation and presentation team.

About Chicago 2016 Bid Delegation

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 academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Chicago 2016 media line, +1.312.861.4826
media@chicago2016.org

Twenty-six Olympic and Paralympic Athletes Travel to Copenhagen for Final Pitch for 2016 Games | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Chicago 2016 announced today that the presentation apparel being worn by the delegation in Copenhagen, Denmark has been designed by three Chicago-based designers, including neckwear designer Lee Allison, venerable clothing brand Hart Schaffner Marx, and renowned designer Maria Pinto.

The designers donated their time to work with the bid and have provided the clothing at cost.

It is customary for bid city delegations to wear official apparel to signify teamwork and cohesion.

“On October 2, Chicago will be on an international stage, and our city’s fashion designers will share in the spotlight,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “Our bid plan celebrates Chicago and we are proud to showcase the talents of the art and design community that thrives here. We appreciate the support of Chicago’s business community and our world-renowned fashion designers.”

The female delegates traveling to Copenhagen will be wearing the designs of Maria Pinto, who has established a name for herself in Chicago and is now well-recognized in the world of fashion.

An alumna of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Pinto majored in fine art with a focus in fashion, and later attended both New York’s Parson’s School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Pinto opened the doors to her first boutique in the city’s West Loop neighborhood, drawing celebrity clients like First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.

Another Chicago-based style maker, Lee Allison, has been producing his own line of neckties, dress shirts and accessories since 1995. His distinctive silk ties are cut and sewn by hand in a studio located in one of Chicago’s most fashion-forward neighborhoods.

Lee Allison creates the signature designs himself, and has been creating ties for Chicago 2016 since the bid’s beginning.

When asked by Chicago 2016 to help create the outfits for the male delegates going to Copenhagen, Chicago 2016 and Allison teamed up with clothier, Hart Schaffner Marx, another hometown favorite since 1872, to fully fashion the men for this significant event.

Hart Schaffner Marx, the flagship of HMX Group, is a leading American tailored clothing brand. Hart Schaffner Marx suits are proudly made in suburban Chicago with a skilled union workforce.

The brand was founded by first generation American brothers, Harry and Max Hart and their partner, Joseph Schaffner, who built a legacy of innovation that continues today.

Hart Schaffner Marx tailored clothing is sold in leading department and specialty stores to discerning gentlemen who value service, style and unparalleled quality. Hart Schaffner Marx has been worn by U.S. Presidents, past and present, including most recently, President Barack Obama during his 2009 inauguration.

The collaboration on the Copenhagen wardrobe is truly representative of Chicago and honors local businesses, both new and old. Chicago is a leading center for fashion and design, home to more than 250 fashion designers and 400 independently-owned retail boutiques.

Mayor Richard M. Daley and the City of Chicago continue to support the growth of Chicago’s fashion industry by providing the necessary resources for established businesses and nurturing new and emerging designers.

Lee Allison is the co-chair of the Mayor’s Fashion Council, a group of 20 volunteer designers and industry experts including Trideep Das, from HMX Group. Maria Pinto has also previously served on the Mayor’s Fashion Council.

About Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Delegation

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 academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick G. Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Chicago 2016 Media Line, 312-861-4826
media@chicago2016.org

Maria Pinto, Lee Allison and Hart Schaffner Marx Dress Chicago 2016 Bid Delegation for Success in Copenhagen | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.