By Tom McClimon
June 29, 2009

"Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid is our bid too," voiced Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann in three separate activities during the Providence Annual Meeting. As Chair of the Standing Committee on Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports (TAPES) and Co-Chair of the Conference's 2016 Chicago Olympics and ParaOlympics Task Force, Hannemann led the discussions at these meetings as well as gave a report to all the mayors at the Sunday's plenary session.

Chicago, as the official representative of the United States, is competing against Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo for the Summer 2016 Games. The decision will be made by the International Olympic Committee on October 2 in Copenhagen.

At both of these meetings, Hannemann was joined by members of Chicago's 2016 Committee, including Lori Healey, President, Chicago 2016; Bill Scherr, Chairman world Sport Chicago; Scott Myers, Executive Director, World Sport Chicago; and Kurt Summers, Chief of Staff to the President of Chicago 2016.

"Chicago needs you," stated Healey in addressing the mayors at both the TAPES Committee meeting and the Olympic Task force meeting. She outlined the three key elements of Chicago's bid to the International Olympic Committee: Athletes in the Center of the Games; Games in the Center of the City; and a Festival of Friendship. Each of these concepts has activities surrounding them.

The major way for cities to show their support is to participate in Olympic Day June 23. Olympic Day is a worldwide celebration of the Olympic ideals of Fairplay, Perseverance, Respect, and Sportsmanship. Cities do not actually have to have held their event by that day, but rather to indicated their intention to do something by that date. Hannemann showed a video on what Honolulu plans to do during a whole week of activities. They include a Family Fun 5km Run/Walk, autograph signing sessions with Hawaii Olympians, the outdoor showing of an inspirational Olympic-theme movie, and other entertainment provided by Hawaiian bands and artists. "We have planned a whole week of activities to highlight the strong influence of sports on our culture as well as to show our strong support for Chicago's bid," stated Hannemann. Additional information on Honolulu's Olympic Day activities can be found at: www.honoluluolympicday.com. Additional information on Olympic Day events can be found at: www.teamusa.org.

Chicago 2016 is also working with cities to develop Urban Youth Sports Initiatives. These initiatives are meant to address the challenges for urban youth to participate in sports. The activities include working with existing youth sports and recreation organizations, improve training for coaches, increasing the involvement of national governing bodies of youth sports organizations, and involving current and past Olympians and ParaOlympians.

At the Olympic Task Force meeting, the mayors also discussed other ways to assist in Chicago's efforts. They decided to sponsor a nationwide series of local viewing events on October 2, the day the IOC will make its final decision. Local viewing events will be held in homes, schools, auditoriums, etc –anywhere that the public might view the decision. The aim is to show that world that all of America will be watching and is supporting Chicago's bid. Information on ways to organize local viewing parties will be sent this summer to the mayors. Other ways to show support include sending letters to sister cities asking them to support Chicago's bid as well as visiting IOC members abroad. Also, if Chicago is awarded the bid, then a four year cultural Olympic program will be undertaken in cities.

At Sunday's plenary session, Hannemann gave an update on the status of the Conference's efforts to assist in Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid. "This show of support needs to start at the grass roots level and it's in our cities where this has to start," stated Hannemann. "We need a strong showing of support by cities for Olympic Day and other activities to show the world that we are behind Chicago's bid." He urged mayors to sign up to be an Olympic Day sponsor. "While Olympic Day is June 23, don't let that close deadline stop you from doing something. You just need to register your support before the 23rd. You can do your actual event later. We will all win if Chicago wins. The Olympics will be good for all of our cities if Chicago is awarded the bid."

"Once Chicago wins," stated Hannemann optimistically, "we will bring our private sector friends together with us and implement a strategy for a program that will allow our international visitors to discover all of America. We will also blend our arts and cultural programs in with our Olympic efforts to showcase the arts during the lead-up to the Olympics."

Additional information on Olympic Day can be found at: teamusa.org. Additional information on Chicago's 2016 bid and activities can be found at: chicago2016.org