By Tom McClimon
February 2, 2009

Joined by a group of gold medal Olympians, the Conference of Mayors 2016 Olympic and Paralympics Task Force met January 17 to discuss how to best support Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympics Games. Lead by the Task Force Co-Chairs Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the mayors set out an ambitious agenda for this year.

The International Olympic Committee will meet in October in Copenhagen to make a final decision. The other cities in the running are: Madrid, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro.

Hannemann outlined the history of the Conference of Mayors support for Chicago's bid. "The mayors want to do whatever we can to assist Chicago. Bringing the Olympics to Chicago will be not only good for Chicago, but for the rest of the country as well," stated Hannemann in his opening remarks. Daley stressed the need to "…change the attitude towards foreign visitors coming to the United States. We want to invite people back to America." An impediment to foreign visitors coming to the United States is seen as one of the major roadblocks to Chicago securing the Olympic bid.

The Task Force will joined for their discussions by members of the private sector, US Olympic Committee and Chicago 2016 Committee members and gold medal Olympians. Private sector members of the Task Force participating in the discussions included Jonathan Tisch, Co-Chairman, Loews Corporation and Chairman & CEO of Loews Hotels; and Noel Irwin Hentschel, President and CEO of American Tours International. Olympians included: Bill Scherr, three-time All-American and World Champion wrestler and Chicago 2016 Director of Sports; Bart Conner, 1984 gymnastic gold medalist and Chicago 2016 Athlete Recruitment Ambassador; Michael Conley, three-time Olympian and gold medalist in track and President of Chicago World Sport; and Arlene Limas, Olympic gold medalist in taekwondo and Chicago 2016 Athletes Advisory Council member.

The Task Force decided that one of the best ways for cities to show their support for Chicago's bid is for cities to participate in Olympic Day, a worldwide celebration that will be held June 23. Thousands of people in more than 160 countries will participate in the celebration to promote fitness and well-being in addition to Olympic ideals. Mayors can join in this initiative by working with local sports commissions, parks departments and civic organizations to sponsor activities such as Olympic Day walks/runs, skills contests, and events involving local Olympians, Paralympians, or Olympic/Paralympics hopefuls. The Task Force will be sending out information to mayors as to how their communities can register to participate in Olympic Day.

The Task Force members also discussed how cities can initiate an Urban Youth Sports program to create more opportunities for urban youth to participate in sports. The Task Force will be working with the Chicago 2016 Committee to further define this initiative and how cities can participate.

Finally, the mayors discussed ways they might engage members of the selection committee of the International Olympic Committee through their sister-city relations and through other international contacts. Due to the strict guidelines set for interaction with selection members, it was determined that such contacts should be coordinated through the Chicago 2016 Committee.

In a plenary session the next day, Hannemann briefed all the mayors on how they can get involved and encouraged their participation. Information on ways to participate in Olympic Day on June 23 will be sent shortly to all mayors. In the meantime, questions should be directed to Tom McClimon on the Conference of Mayors staff at mcclimon@usmayors.org