POSTED: Thursday September 3rd 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CELEBRITIES BACK THE BID

Celebrities and sports figures demonstrate support of Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Chicago (September 2, 2009)—With 30 days left until the 2016 Host City is selected by the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen, Denmark, Chicago 2016 has some of the nation’s most recognizable celebrities and sports figures demonstrating their support for the city’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With the help of Chicago 2016 Committee Member Billy Dec, a local restaurateur, a series of more than 50 short videos have been created featuring nationally recognized celebrities and sport figures talking about their love of Chicago and support for the city’s bid. A new video will be released online every day for the next 30 days. Prominent names, including Jeremy Piven, Jimmy Fallon, David Schwimmer, Dan Aykroyd, Andy Roddick, Sophia Bush, William Petersen, George Lopez, Nick Cannon, John Legend and Joe Mantegna make an appearance endorsing Chicago’s bid.

Chicago 2016 Committee Member Tim Smithe also brought some star-power to back the bid, conceiving of and producing a 30-second television commercial and 60-second radio spot that will air across Chicagoland. The commercial features original dance music composed by Poi Dog Pondering and appearances by more than a dozen celebrities, including Mike Ditka, Bonnie Hunt, Conan O’Brien, Lou Piniella and Quentin Tarantino. Participants sing along to a jingle, symbolically spell out 2016, and state briefly what Chicago getting the Games means to them.

“With 30 days to go until the Host City is selected in Copenhagen, the online videos and the new commercial are fun ways to show the world how enthusiastic some of the country’s most high-profile citizens are for Chicago’s bid for the Games,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “We appreciate their support and look forward to the final decision in just 30 days in Copenhagen.”

The videos and commercial can be viewed on the Chicago 2016 Web site at www.chicago2016.org.   

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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 Bids · Jeremy Piven · Jimmy Fallon · David Schwimmer · Dan Aykroyd · Andy Roddick · Sophia Bush · William Petersen · George Lopez · Nick Cannon · John Legend · Joe Mantegna

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

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