City’s Olympic committee, supporters in Copenhagen for big announcement

Chicago’s final Olympics bid team consists of Mayor Richard M. Daley, Gov. Pat Quinn and a host of Blacks who are in Copenhagen, Denmark this week to give a final presentation on Friday to the International Olympic Committee before the IOC decides t

Chicago’s final Olympics bid team consists of Mayor Richard M. Daley, Gov. Pat Quinn and a host of Blacks who are in Copenhagen, Denmark this week to give a final presentation on Friday to the International Olympic Committee before the IOC decides the host city for the 2016 Games.

Chicago is competing against Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro.

Black Chicagoans are lending their support to Chicago 2016-the city’s official Olympics committee-to ensure it emerges victorious from the bidding process.

Chicago is well represented by some of the city’s most influential Blacks. Most notably are President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Others include Oprah Winfrey, Chicago 2016 Chief of Staff Kurt Summers, businessman John Rogers and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. Michael Jordan was unable to make the trip but did send a videotaped message expressing his support.

Chicago 2016 officials are hopeful that the presence of President Obama and Winfrey is sure to clinch their bid.

“We are very honored and excited to have Oprah Winfrey travel to Copenhagen,” said Patrick Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “As a member of our community and as someone who understands and demonstrates the value of helping others, she embodies the spirit of so many Chicagoans and is truly an emissary for our bid and for the city of Chicago.”

Winfrey attended the “City Night” event when the IOC’s Evaluation Commission visited Chicago in April. She also featured Team USA on her daytime talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, following the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympics Games.

“I love and believe in Chicago, and I think it would be the perfect host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympics Games,” Winfrey said.

Chicago’s support among prominent Blacks stretches beyond city limits.

Retired NBA player Dikembe Mutombo and Olympians Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Mike Conley are also in Copenhagen on behalf of the city’s bid.

Ryan added that he is confident Chicago will emerge victorious especially since so many athletes are showing their support.

“We are honored to have so many athletes making the trip with us to Copenhagen for our presentation to the IOC and to show their support for our bid,” Ryan explained. “More than 2,500 athletes support Chicago 2016, and we have utilized their knowledge in all aspects of our bidincluding insights into venue planning and athlete accommodations in our proposed (Olympic) Village, as well as to promote our bid across the United States and the world.”

Summers agreed.

“Chicago is the best place to have the Olympics in 2016 because it offers venues sites no other city can provide. Besides, the United States is ready to host the Olympics again,” Summers explained.

No aldermen made the trip, but all 19 Black aldermen support the city’s bid. The full City Council recently approved financial guarantees needed to remain competitive in the bid.

“Chicago could use the Olympics. The Olympics represents economic opportunities for the Black community,” said Ald. Carrie Austin (34th), who chairs the council’s Budget Committee. “So if it takes a financial guarantee to win the Games, so be it.”

Ald. Ed. Smith, whose 28th Ward cover portions of the West Side, said if Chicago wins the Games it would boost the local economy.

“More jobs are needed in my ward and the Olympics could potentially provide 173,000 new jobs to Chicago,” Smith said.

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