POSTED: Wednesday September 23rd 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Twenty-six Olympic and Paralympic Athletes Travel to Copenhagen for Final Pitch for 2016 Games

Athlete delegation shows support for Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

 

CHICAGO (September 23, 2009)—Today, Chicago 2016 announced that 26 Olympic and Paralympic athletes will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the city’s final presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

 

“More than 2,500 athletes support Chicago 2016, and we have utilized their knowledge in all aspects of our bid—including insights into venue planning and athlete accommodations in our proposed Village, as well as to promote our bid across the United States and the world,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “We are honored to have so many athletes making the trip with us to Copenhagen for our presentation to the IOC to share their Olympic and Paralympic stories and to show their support for our bid.”

 

Olympians and Paralympians attending the events include: Willie Banks, Bob Berland, Brandi Chastain, Dragomir Cioroslan, Bryan Clay, Nadia Comaneci, Michael Conley, Bart Conner, Bob Ctvrtlik, Anita DeFrantz, Donna de Verona, David Diaz, Ron Freeman, Gary Hall, Jr., April Holmes, Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Nastia Luikin, Linda Mastandrea, Connie Moore, Paul Moran, Edwin Moses, Mike Plant, Bill Scherr, Diane Simpson and Keri Walsh.

 

In addition to consulting on Chicago 2016’s Games plan, athletes have routinely helped promote Chicago’s bid at a variety of events, including festivals and parades in Chicago’s neighborhoods and at milestone events such as the IOC’s Evaluation Commission visit to Chicago in April. For Olympic Day on June 23, more than 200 athletes attended celebrations across the United States, organized by Chicago 2016 and the U.S. Olympic Committee. During Olympic Week in America, more than 50 athletes attended events in Chicago, leading celebrations that included more than 230,000 Chicago Public School students.

 

Danish-native and former NFL player Morten Andersen, and retired NBA star Dikembe Mutombo will also travel to Copenhagen to show their support for Chicago’s bid.

 

In Copenhagen, athletes will attend many Chicago 2016 Supporter events, and some will be part of Chicago 2016’s delegation and presentation team.

 

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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 Bids · Willie Banks · Bob Berland · Brandi Chastain · Dragomir Cioroslan · Bryan Clay · Nadia Comaneci · Michael Conley · Bart Conner · Bob Ctvrtlik · Anita DeFrantz · Donna de Verona · David Diaz · Ron Freeman · Gary Hall · Jr. · April Holmes · Mich

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

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