USOC Will Not Consider Future U.S. Host Cities While Chicago Bids

USOC Acting CEO Stephanie Streeter yesterday in a statement said while it is "always encouraging to see enthusiasm for the Olympic movement, the USOC has been on record for more than two years in proclaiming that there will be absolutely no consideration of any future bids -- winter or summer -- from the U.S. while Chicago is on the international stage." Streeter noted "several recent news reports indicate that a number of U.S. cities are considering future Olympic bids." But she said, "Chicago is not only our current bid city, it is our only bid city, and it is the sole focus of our efforts. … So, with all due respect to those cities that are dreaming about one day bidding for the Games, now is not the time. This is Chicago's time" (USOC). Tribune Co. reporter Philip Hersh noted Streeter's statement was "prompted by recent stories, which drew the attention on some Olympic news sites, suggesting" Tulsa, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Detroit and Birmingham are "thinking about bids" for the '20 Summer Games. The USOC last winter "had to tamp down interest in Denver for a 2018 Winter Olympic bid, which also seemingly depended on Chicago's failure." Chicago 2016 Communications Dir Patrick Sandusky said Streeter's statement was "consistent with the USOC's position." Sandusky: "The USOC has affirmed on several previous occasions that we are the only bid city, Summer or Winter." Hersh wrote for "financial reasons, the USOC desperately needs another Olympics in the United States, sooner rather than later," and the organization "should be fully committed to Chicago's bid and show that more in its actions than words" (LATIMES.com, 8/10).

OPEN THE BOOKS: In Chicago, David Greising writes the Chicago City Council "should insist -- and Chicago 2016 should agree -- that the organizing committee become subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act," which requires government entities to "provide information of public interest about how they operate." While Chicago 2016 is "not a public entity," the organization's demand that it "needs an unlimited financial guarantee, not to mention $500[M] from the city and $250[M] from the state, makes organizing a Chicago Olympics a very public matter." Before granting the financial guarantee, the City Council "should demand that Chicago 2016 agree to honor requests for information, following the same openness guidelines as described in Illinois' freedom of information law" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/11).