IOC report notes problems with Chicago's bid

IOC report notes problems with Chicago's bid
By Phil Hersh
Copyright 2009 by the Chicago Tribune
September 2, 2009 7:24 AM
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/chicago-2016-olympics.html?track=email-alert-breakingnews


The contenders (from left): Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo

An International Olympic Committee document assessing the bids of the four cities vying for the 2016 Summer Olympics noted several problems with Chicago's bid.

The report, which runs 98 pages, was released this morning on the Internet.

While saying all four finalists could organize the 2016 Olympic Games, the IOC's evaluation commission report noted several flaws in the Chicago bid that could increase what the report called the ``risks...inherent to each project.''

The report found:

• Increased risk in Chicago due to an ``emphasis on major temporary or scaled-down venues;''

• The transport plan includes factors that could be a ``major challenge;''

• A lack of a full guarantee against shortfall, an issue that remains problematic even after Mayor Richard Daley said he would sign the contract that makes the city the financial backstop;

• The Chicago budget was ``ambitious but achievable'' but the city needs an ``extensive sponsorship program'' to make it work.

• The Olympic Village plan a potentially ``special experience for the athletes'' but noted no full financing guarantee for its construction was provided when the commission visited in early April.

Read the document on the IOC's Web site.