IOC President Jacques Rogge Discusses Chicago's 2016 Bid Chances
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Rogge Says Obama Effect
Is Good For Chicago's Bid |
IOC President Jacques Rogge said that the "Obama effect is good" for Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics, according to Philip Hersh of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. When asked about President-elect Barack Obama's video showing his "enthusiastic support for the Olympic movement," Rogge said, "This makes me rejoice, of course." Rogge said it is "always good to see the support of the president of the United States for a candidate city, and of course the fact this is Chicago will definitely help that. This is very positive." When asked if past success of Olympics held in the U.S. during difficult economic times impacts Chicago's bid, Rogge said, "We are going to judge next year the guarantees and the underwriting and the financial security, but we have to do that not by thinking of the past but by looking at the actual situation in a changing world -- globalized, volatile world where certainties disappear." More Rogge: "There is this fundamental trust in the inherent values of the United States being a very strong country, politically, democratically, economically. That remains. The fact you are still and will remain for a long time the biggest economic market in the world is not going to disappear." Rogge said of the USOC model, which does not include governmental support, "There is no better model. ... The American model of splendid isolation is only possible in a very rich country with the right culture for it -- minimal government and a private market that can bring in the resources. That is not the reality for the other 204 countries of the (Olympic) world." Meanwhile, when asked if there was any way to agree to a revenue-sharing agreement that does not include drops in percentages for the U.S., Rogge said, "I am not going to speculate about the declarations of Peter Ueberroth. I hope we can find a resolution. Don't ask me to enter into specific details" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/14).
RISKY BUSINESS: In Chicago, Cohen & Dardick wrote Chicago's Olympic bid has "gotten riskier for taxpayers." Olympic boosters Friday said that the bid's "financial cushion has eroded due to the worsening real estate market," and as a result, "chances are greater that the city might have to make good" on its $500M guarantee to cover any budget shortfall should Chicago be named host city for the 2016 Games. Chicago will also be "required to provide city services such as transportation and medical aid free of charge because of changes in international rules." The city had "originally planned to charge standard rates for services." Meanwhile, Chicago 2016 Chair & CEO Patrick Ryan said that he does not think Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's legal problems "will affect Chicago's bid," because Chicago Mayor Richard Daley -- and not Blagojevich -- "has led the charge for the Games" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/13). Also in Chicago, Rick Telander wrote Blagojevich "likely will be in the slammer somewhere by 2016, but what should the [IOC] think now of this city's bid for the Summer Games when the top official in the state is little more than a sleazy pawnbroker-cum-extortionist?" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/14).
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