2016 Bidding Delegates in Rio to learn from Pan Am Games
12/07/2007 |
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Delegations from Chicago and Madrid are attending the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro hoping to gain knowledge that would help them in their bids for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
Mayor Richard Daley is heading Chicago’s delegation which includes Patrick Ryan, head of Chicago 2016, and USOC board chairman Peter Ueberroth.
After visiting Beijing and London, two future Olympic host cities, Chicago officials say they are looking forward to witnessing a large event in action, not just on a drawing board, reports the Chicago Tribune.
The Pan Am Games host city Rio de Janeiro, is also competing for the chance to host the 2016 Summer Games and Brazilian officials have said the Pan Am Games will be an important test run for them.
Patrick Sandusky, spokesman for Chicago 2016, said delegates will focus on how Rio handles transportation, housing, media and other logistical issues. “We’re here for the opportunity to learn and observe so we can move our bid forward. It’s an opportunity for us to see athletes in villages, athletes in stadiums”.
Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will also be attending the games. Prior to leaving Chicago Daley said he hoped to meet IOC members who will be attending and will try to present Chicago as “a city of immigrants” with a deep desire to host the Olympics.
Chicago’s delegation plans to meet Rio city officials and organizers of the Pan Am Games.
Meanwhile a Madrid 16 Olympic bid delegation left Wednesday for the Pan am Games, headed by Mercedes Coghen, Madrid 16 CEO.
Coghen said, “it is a great honour for us to attend this important sports event in which 5,662 athletes are going to compete representing 42 different countries of the American continent”.
She called it “an excellent opportunity to assess the progresses of one of the cities that will participate in the process to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games together with Madrid”.
(Source: Gamesbids.com)
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