Chicago 2016 receive late boost in race to big vote finish line

Posted: Tuesday 8th September 2009 | 22:36

CHICAGO'S 2016 Olympic bid has received a major boost - just 24 days before the International Olympic Committee decides the hosts of the Games in Copenhagen.

BIG BOOST: Chicago 2016 president Lori Healey hailed today's decision by Chicago's City Council

Chicago had long been considered a frontrunner but was criticised in last week's final IOC evaluation report for their failure to win the same local political support as rivals Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janiero.

However, a city council committee today approved an ordinance that will allow Chicago mayor Richard Daley to sign the Olympics host city agreement.

It means Chicago taxpayers will guarantee to pick up the tab should the agreed budget of 750 million US dollars - agreed by city and state government - overrun.

Chicago 2016 president Lori Healey, president of the Chicago 2016 bid, hailed the decision - which is expected to be ratified at a full council meeting tomorrow.

"I think the spirit of partnership that we exhibited with the City Council is one that's really important, and even coming down to the disagreement over one word," she said.

"I mean, we got 99.9 percent of the way there. We want to go to Copenhagen with support. We got almost all the way there."

Comments

Keep the games overseas,

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/08/2009 - 23:05.

Keep the games overseas, Americans need to go and compete there, it's not a big deal to other athletes if they come here, as it is when we go there. As an old American athlete I have ran in the Chicago area, nice place but I would have loved to competed overseas.