US Fencing and its community support Chicago’s bid for 2016 Olympic Games
President Obama leads delegation in Copenhagen
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. Sept. 28, 2009 – On Oct. 2, the International Olympic Committee will determine the site of the 2016 Olympic Games as part of its meetings in Copenhagen, Denmark. The City of Chicago has put together an incredible bid for the Olympics, complete with a compact plan of impressive venues, solid corporate support and an involved local government. Along with the city’s endeavors, World Sports Chicago has already begun creating a lasting legacy through its grassroots efforts with the various national governing bodies by hosting numerous events for a variety of Olympic sports.
“US Fencing completely supports Chicago, and as a native of Chicago, I believe the city will be an excellent host for the 2016 Olympic Games,” said Kurt Aichele, Executive Director of US Fencing. “We are grateful for the efforts of World Sports Chicago who have tirelessly supported the Olympic efforts throughout the community, stemming from the variety of urban outreach initiatives that include fencing in the City of Chicago. Without question, enthusiasm for hosting the Olympic Games is evident in Chicago.
“Hosting the Olympic Games in the United States significantly impacts all sports in our country,” said Aichele. “Chicago has demonstrated that it is an Olympic city by supporting the grassroots sports movement and by including US Fencing in the planning and presentation of the bid, its benefits, and their outreach efforts.”
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama lead the U.S. delegation going to Copenhagen for the final Chicago 2016 presentation and the IOC’s vote. “President Obama's presence in Copenhagen is critical and gives Chicago its strongest chance possible,” said Aichele. “The President's participation demonstrates that the importance of this opportunity to the United States. US Fencing is proud of Chicago 2016 and we remain hopeful that the IOC will recognize the quality of the bid by awarding the 2016 Olympic Games to this great city.”
Fans can still show their support for Chicago’s bid by registering as a supporter on the Chicago 2016 Web site (http://www.chicago2016.org/support-the-bid.aspx).
A variety of activities are planned to follow the final IOC selection process on Oct. 2, including options for fans who live in and outside of the Chicago area.
· Chicagoans can go to Daley Plaza to watch the announcement and other activities live on Oct. 2, beginning at 9 a.m. CT.
· Fans can also follow the action in Copenhagen, from the city presentations to the announcement, on the Web or TV. Coverage is available through several different outlets Friday morning, including the Chicago 2016 Web site (www.chicago2016.org/watch-live.aspx) for rebroadcasts of the final presentation, and live coverage of the city announcement and press conference; the IOC Web site (www.olympic.org) for live streaming of the candidate city presentations; Universal Sports, both its Web Site (www.universalsports.com) and cable network; and NBC.
Chicago faces competition from Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan. Each city will make a presentation to the IOC and hold a press conference following its presentation. The announcement of the host city is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET. For a complete presentation and announcement schedule for Oct. 2, please go to www.olympic.org.
To learn more about Chicago’s plans and recent news about 2016, go to www.chicago2016.org
Based in Colorado Springs, US Fencing is the national governing body for fencing in the United States. Its mission is to support athletes in thier pursuit of excellence in the sport. For more complete information, log on to www.usfencing.org
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