A recent survey of 1,000 adult Americans commissioned
by Baltimore-based Eisner Communications and conducted by
NJ-based Bruskin-Goldring Research September 8-10 indicates
that the Tampa-Orlando bid to be the host U.S. city for the
2012 Olympics "would win hands down" if the decision were a
"popularity contest," according to June Arney of the
Baltimore SUN. The Tampa-Orlando area "was the favorite"
among 20% of those surveyed, followed by Dallas 11%, S.F.
10%, Cincinnati and L.A. with 9% each, Baltimore-DC and N.Y.
with 8% each and Houston with 6%. The survey has a +/-3.5%
margin of error (Baltimore SUN, 9/19). In the fall of 2002,
the USOC will select one of the eight U.S. bids to host the
2012 Games, which will be awarded by the IOC in 2005. Some
members of the prospective cities are currently in Sydney.
Baltimore-DC bid group CEO Dan Knise said that his regional
coalition has raised $7.5M of the $9M needed for its
proposal. In DC, Rajiv Chandrasekaran wrote that people
"involved in the Olympic movement privately say the region
has assembled a compelling proposal that stands a reasonable
chance of winning" the nomination. While in Sydney this
week, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley said the regional
coalition "learned just how important transportation is"
while attending the Sydney Games (WASHINGTON POST, 9/19).
In Dallas, Kevin Blackistone writes that U.S. bidders for
the 2012 Games can not compete with Sydney: "Dallas-Fort
Worth can't recreate this. Now way. No how. But neither
can Tampa-St. Pete or Baltimore-Washington" (DALLAS MORNING
NEWS, 9/21). Florida 2012 Chair Ed Turanchik, on the
importance of being in Sydney: "For us, it's getting
acquainted with people" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 9/21).
ATH-ENS & OUTS IN 2004: In Toronto, Jim Byers: "The
remarkable success -- so far -- of the Sydney Games puts
those who will follow in something of a quandary, which is
how do they compare? ... Athens probably will suffer the
most by comparison" (TORONTO STAR, 9/20). The AUSTRALIAN
FINANCIAL REVIEW's Lisa Allen wrote that the Athens
Organizing Committee (ATHOC) has "failed so far to sign up
any local sponsors, although" TOP sponsors "are in place."
ATHOC head Petros Synadinos noted the city's shortage of
hotels: "In general terms we have the same quantity of
hotels as Sydney. But there are not so many five-star
hotels as there is in Sydney, that's the issue. Our major
problem is how to handle this situation" (FINANCIAL REVIEW,
9/20). The Athens office of BBDO Worldwide has reached an
agreement with PNM Sports to launch Millsport Athens to
pursue sponsorship business for the 2004 Games (Millsport).
BEI-JINGOISM IN 2008: In Beijing, state media reported
that the city, the "current" favorite for the 2008 Games,
has "earmarked" $17.8B to "tackle traffic congestion and
pollution ahead of" the IOC's decision next year on the host
city (REUTERS, 9/18). In Philadelphia, John Smallwood
writes, "If Beijing truly is the city I saw in the video
presentation by the Chinese delegation to promote its bid
for the 2008 Summer Olympics, then it has my vote." He adds
that in the video, Beijing looked "like Chicago." The
Beijing Committee said it is prepared to spend US$13B to
prepare for the Games (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 9/21).
