Chicago 2016 Chair Pat Ryan Downplays Taxpayer Risk In Bid

Ryan Trying To Bolster Public Opinion For '16 Games

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN: Ryan yesterday during the press conference said that "information about the city's revised financial guarantees may not be disclosed for two months while additional insurance coverage is arranged." Daley last week said that he would meet with the City Council over the matter, but Ryan said, "We can't go to the City Council today. We'd look like dummies because we don't have it all complete." Ryan said that the "beefed-up plan will be shown to the Council in 45-60 days." But Chicago Alderman Joe Moore said, "We were told last week that the mayor agreed to enter into a contract giving the city open-ended liability, and we were told he did that because they had this whole package together that would guarantee the taxpayers wouldn't be holding the bag. So it begs the question, why aren't they willing or able to share that plan with the City Council and the public at large now?" Alderman Tom Allen said that he was "not too concerned about the timetable for presenting further" information to the City Council. But Allen added, "We need to have more hearings on this. Let's not be secretive" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/23).

TRUST FALL? In Chicago, Rick Telander wrote under the header, "Daley And His Pals Want Trust But Don't Deserve It." The projected Chicago 2016 budget of $4.8B will be "three times that, just as London's 2012 Games budget is three times what it was projected to be." Daley "already lied about guaranteeing private financing for all the construction and limited taxpayer exposure for any, ahem, miscalculations or screw-ups." Telander: "We're supposed to be so excited about a Summer Olympics coming to our city that we're supposed to forget about what's in it -- or not in it -- for us. Has anybody asked you your concerns?" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/21).

100 DAYS UNTIL A DECISION: NBC's Kevin Tibbles reported live from Chicago for the net's "Today" show this morning and noted today is being called International Olympic Day by the IOC, as it is "only 100 days until they decide who gets to host the 2016 Summer Games." The city's efforts have included endorsements from Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan and President Obama, and Tibbles notes Chicago "is considered by some to have a slight edge over its competitors in Rio, Tokyo and Madrid" ("Today," NBC, 6/23).

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