The US Olympic Committee (USOC) Chief Executive Jim Scherr
pledged on Sunday to push Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic
Games.
Scherr said a conference to boost the bid in Chigaco will be
held January 15-17, with the participation of Olympic and
Paralympic sports leaders.
He said the conference will create a strong partnership with US
sports organizations and further strengthen Chigaco's bid for the
2016 Olympic Games.
Sports on the programs of the Olympic Summer and Winter Games,
the Pan American and Paralympic Games have been invited to the
conference to create a forum for feedback with Chicago 2016, which
is seeking further input from the sports leaders at the event,
Scherr said in a statement e-mailed to Xinhua.
"This bid, first and foremost, is based on sport," said Jim
Scherr, the Chief Executive of the USOC, "and we welcome the
opportunity to make this a mutually beneficial partnership with the
leaders of Olympic and Paralympic sport in the United States," he
said.
"These leaders of sports organizations will provide solid and
meaningful input that will result in a plan that is strong from a
sport and athlete perspective. This is one step in a solid
partnership with our various sports bodies in the US."
About 90 leaders are expected to attend the conference,
including sports administrators, technical experts and those with
international responsibilities in the sport federations.
The group will be briefed by the USOC and Chicago 2016,
participate in a venue tour of the planned Olympic and Paralympic
sites and will have an opportunity to meet city leadership and
Chicago 2016 board and committee members, said the statement.
"This is a great opportunity to meet our nation's top amateur
sports leaders," said Patrick Ryan, Olympic bid Chairman and CEO.
"We highly value their knowledge of sport, governance and legacy
and look forward to hearing their insights. We hope they also share
our vision and become ambassadors of Chicago's Olympic bid."
Chicago is competing for the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2016
Paralympic Games. The host city of the 2016 Games will be announced
in October 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2008)