POSTED: Monday April 6th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FESTIVE “CITY NIGHT” PRESENTS CHICAGO’S WORLD CLASS
International Olympic Committee evaluators to be joined by Chicago luminaries such as Oprah, chef Tony Mantuano and singers Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor
CHICAGO (April 6, 2009)—After days of presentations and an extensive venue tour, members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission will enjoy highlights of the city’s culture during “City Night” at The Art Institute of Chicago.
While experiencing a preview of the museum’s new Renzo Piano-designed expansion, IOC members will enjoy food prepared by award-winning chef Tony Mantuano, entertainment by Grammy Award winning performing artists Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor, and mingle with Chicago’s own Oprah Winfrey. Other performances include the Chicago Children’s choir, performing “One Voice” and local instrumentalist Andrew Bird.
“Now that our distinguished guests have had the chance to experience our city’s external beauty and detailed bid plan, ‘City Night’ is designed to let them experience Chicago’s rich culture,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “We want these members of the Olympic Family to experience a sampling of the best cuisine, music and arts that Chicago has to offer.”
The Dinner
Tony Mantuano, executive chef at Spiaggia and James Beard Award winner, is preparing a special menu for the 120 expected guests. Highlights from the menu include roasted sea scallops, black truffle filled ravioletto, grilled prime Midwestern strip loin and a chocolate dessert called ‘Cloud Gate’.
Tonight’s full menu with wine pairings is attached.
The Entertainment
After dinner, guests will be treated to performances by music legends Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor, the “King and Queen of Chicago Blues,” with a special rendition of “Sweet Home Chicago.” The talents of Guy and Taylor put Chicago on the map as a world-class city for blues. Guy is a five-time Grammy Award-winning blues and rock guitarist and singer. Taylor, also a Grammy Award-winner, is commonly known as “The Queen of the Blues.”
Jim Cuno, director and president of The Art Institute of Chicago, will lead the IOC delegation on a private tour of the Impressionist Gallery in the newly-constructed Modern Wing of the building designed by Renzo Piano, the Pritzger Prize-winning Italian architect who is also known for designing the Parco della Musica entertainment complex added to the site of the Rome 1960 Olympic Games on a street named for the founder of the Olympic Movement, Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
The Modern Wing of The Art Institute will officially open on May 16, 2009.
Other speakers during the dinner presentation include Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago 2016 CEO Patrick Ryan.
Attendees Include
Geoff Brammer, Deputy Consul General of United Kingdom
Nadia Comaneci, Olympian – Gymnastics
Bart Conner, Olympian – Gymnastics
John Cullerton, President, Illinois State Senate
Richard M. Daley, Mayor, City of Chicago
Jean-Baptiste de Boiseeiere, Consul General of France
Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator for Illinois
Maria Rosa Ferrer, Consul General of Colombia
Mufi Hanneman, Mayor, City of Honolulu
Dennis Hastert, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympian - Heptathlon
Kerstin Lane, Consul General of Sweden
Nastia Liukin, Olympian – Gymnastics
Giambattista Mondada, Consul General of Switzerland
Martin Nesbitt, CEO, PRG Parking Management
J.B. Pritzker, Founder & Managing Partner, The Pritzker Group
Patrick Quinn, Governor, State of Illinois
Elizabeth Schick, Consul General of Australia
Mona Seouby, Consul General of Egypt
Pei-Hwang Shen, Taipei Economic & Cultural Center
Oprah Winfrey, Entertainment Pioneer & Philanthropist
The IOC Evaluation Commission remains in Chicago until April 8. IOC members and subject matter experts will be in town to review all aspects of Chicago’s bid and to experience the city firsthand. The experience of Evaluation Commission members while in the city is a vital component of the Olympic bid process, as the inspection is used to issue a technical report to IOC members in September, one month before the election of the 2016 Host City on October 2, 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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About Chicago 2016
Chicago 2016 is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The committee’s board consists of business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.
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Keywords · Chicago 2016 · Olympic Bid · Oprah Winfrey
Name: Mica Matsoff
Organization: Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid
Email:
Phone: 1.312.861.4826
URL: http://www.chicago2016.org/
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