POSTED: Thursday February 12th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GRANDSON OF JESSE OWENS’ DELIVERS CHICAGO 2016 BID BOOK TO IOC

Hand-Crafted Symbols of Chicago Children’s Hopes and Dreams Accompany Submission

CHICAGO (February 12, 2009)—Chicago 2016 today submitted the official Candidature File to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland.  Chicago’s bid book was hand-delivered by Chicago-native Stuart Owen Rankin, grandson of four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Jesse Owens who participated in the 1936 Olympic Games.  The bid book contains hand-crafted Chicago stars drawn by children from the Jesse Owens Community Academy, who participated in a send-off event last Friday and shared their hopes and dreams for bringing the Games to Chicago in 2016.

“As a Chicago native and the grandson of Olympian Olympian Jesse Owens, I am honored to be involved in this process and am committed to Chicago’s efforts to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Rankin.  “I believe that Chicago is an ideal choice for the Games due to its diversity, respect and appreciation for sport, and the legacy that the Games will provide in our communities and for the Olympic Movement.”

A group of supporters gathered at O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday, waving signs and cheering as Rankin departed with the bid book.  He arrived in Lausanne on Thursday and visited the Olympic Museum, where his grandfather’s photographs and track shoes are on display, and delivered the bid book to the IOC Headquarters.

At a press conference on Friday, Chicago 2016 plans to reveal the contents of the bid book, which is a response to the 227 questions posed to all bid cities by the IOC.  The Committee will discuss key areas of the Candidature File, including environment, urban sport, and community and Games legacy.

“Tomorrow we have the opportunity to reveal a more colorful picture of our plan for a spectacular Games experience,” said Chicago 2016 chairman and CEO Patrick Ryan.  “This has been an exciting and historic week, and having the Owens family as part of this milestone has made it even more meaningful.”

Chicago’s plan places the athlete at the center of the Games—with the Games in the heart of the city—and then surrounds the sport competition with a festival of friendship designed to deliver a spectacular Games experience for one and all.

Chicago 2016’s compact, sustainable plan takes advantage of existing infrastructure for accommodations and transport and maximizes the use of existing and temporary venues.  22 of 27 venues are temporary venues or those which already exist.  The venues for 22 sports (eighty-five percent), the IBC/MPC, the Olympic Family hotel and accommodations for all key constituent groups are located within an 8 km Olympic Ring.

The Olympic Village is the center of Chicago 2016’s plan, placing 90 percent of the athletes within 15 minutes or less of their competition venues and training sites.

.

The IOC Evaluation Commission will visit Chicago April 2–8, 2009.  IOC members and subject matter experts will be in town to review all aspects of Chicago’s bid, including the proposed venues, and to experience the city firsthand.

# # #

Keywords · Chicago 2016 · Olympic Bid · Jesse Owens

Name: Mica Matsoff
Organization: Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid
Email:
Phone: 1.312.861.4826
URL: http://www.chicago2016.org/

Please refer all questions to the company listed above issuing the press release. SFC will not be able to assist you with any inquiries and disclaims any content in these press releases.