(ATR) Chicago turns on the lights for this week’s visit by a team from the U.S. Olympic Committee. For the next few nights, a 22–story high logo for the 2016 bid will be projected on one side of Sears Tower. The 110-story skyscraper is the tallest building in North America, third tallest in the world, and is depicted in the bid logo.
The 16-member USOC delegation arrives Monday for a two-day inspection, the visit coming after a similar stop last week in Los Angeles, the other city under consideration for the U.S. nomination for 2016.
In addition to the torch logo of Chicago on a skyscraper, at street level the backs of downtown newspaper racks will carry the look of the city’s bid.
Tuesday the commission will meet at Soldier Field for briefings from experts on elements of the Chicago bid. Newly-reelected Mayor Richard Daley will greet the USOC and is expected to spend a significant amount of time with the group across both days.
On Wednesday the USOC visitors will visit McCormick Place, the sprawling convention center that will host 12 events, plus the Main Media Center. McCormick is one of just a handful of existing venues available for Chicago.
The commission will stop at Washington Park in south Chicago where a temporary Olympic Stadium would be er
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| A snowy field in Washington Park is what the USOC will see when it visits the site of the proposed Olympic Stadium for Chicago. (ATR) |
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ected. The commission will also see proposed venues for the Lake Michigan shorefront.
Organizers say they won’t have enough time to show a key existing venue, the United Center, site for basketball and gymnastics.
A wrap-up press conference is planned for early Wednesday afternoon and will be the only time the commission and press meet for question and answer. Several photo opportunities are planned, including the openingg of the meeting and the commission arrival for an official dinner at the Art Institute on Tuesday evening.
The weather will be in sharp contrast to the Los Angeles visit last week, with snow on the ground and temperatures above freezing during the day, but is not expected to impact travel of the commission.
The first licensed apparel carrying the Chicago 2016 logo goes on sale Monday. Maggie Daley, wife of Mayor Daley, will join bid chair Pat Ryan at a press conference at a downtown Macy’s where a Chicago 2016 shop has been set up within the store.
The featured item is a long-sleeved t-shirt with the bid logo, priced at $30.
Your best source of news about the race for the 2016 Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only.