IOC decision shocks Chicago supporters

A collective gasp went up from the 12,000 Chicago supporters gathered Friday at Chicago's Daley Plaza to watch the announcement of the Olympic and Paralympic host city for the 2016 Games.

All of the hopes for the Windy City to become the home of the Olympic and Paralympic Games had been dashed in just a second.

Despite last-minute presentations to the International Olympic Committee from President Barack Obama, his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, and a handful of celebrities-including Chicago's talk show host extraordinaire Oprah Winfrey-the IOC had ousted Chicago in the first of three rounds of voting.

"It had been built up so much in the press, and all the oddsmakers didn't predict this so it was just like a big gasp came up from everyone," explained Chicagoan Maria Raynolds. "I love the Olympics and definitely wanted them here."

The crowd began to build in Daley Plaza as early as 6:30 a.m.  They came toting signs of all sizes supporting the Olympic bid, including some with just the large letter "W," like the flag hung at Wrigley Field after a Cubs win. They watched videos of the bid presentations on two large plasma screens and listened to live bands until about 9 a.m., when a series of speakers began taking the stage. Throughout the morning, 1984 gold medal-winning swimmer Rowdy Gaines served as the event's emcee and revved up Chicagoans from the stage.

Shortly before the first vote, at about 10 a.m., the crowd had become a sea of orange as long-sleeved orange Chicago 2016 shirts were being handed out. A hush came over the crowd as the IOC members began voting. When the announcement came that only Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo would move onto the second round, reaction in Daley Plaza ranged from total disgust to outright tears.

"It was just a big letdown, almost like the wind just got knocked out of us," said Kathy Howard of Chicago.  "To be just so quickly eliminated. And the way they announced it was very disappointing, as well.

"Momentum had just seemed to be gaining."

This city's hopes hadn't been deflated this badly since the Chicago Cubs blew the 2003 National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins. The IOC, meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the vote, eventually selected Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 Games, the first time the Olympics will be held in South America.

"I woke up this morning at 1:45 (Chicago time) to watch the presentation," said John Litchfield of south suburban Flossmoor. "And I was very touched by it. I thought they did a great job. So I'm obviously extremely disappointed."

Part of the reason for the tremendous disappointment was the hard push made to get the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Chicago. Organizers laid out a lavish plan that would have included a centralized Games, with many venues being set up in the heart of downtown Chicago. Through redevelopment and World Sport Chicago, the planners hoped to leave a legacy of improved quality of life in some of Chicago's most impoverished areas.

World Sport Chicago, an organization that promotes Olympic and Paralympic sports to inner city youth, plans to move forward even without the 2016 Games.

USA Team Handball, which had considered a move from Park City, Utah, to Chicago if the Games were awarded there, reiterated plans today to increase its presence in the Windy City, even without the 2016 Games.

"We were really proud of all the hard work everyone did and we thought it was going to get us there," said Catherine Howlett of Chicago.

Within an hour, only a few hundred people lingered near the Daley Plaza's famous Picasso sculpture, which was draped with a gold medal. As they watched the large screen TVs and heard Rio de Janeiro had won, a handful began the chant: "20-20, 20-20,'' in reference to Chicago trying to bid again for the Games in 2020.

"It's one of the few moments where it's like the whole world comes together and puts everything together," said 19-year-old DePaul student Kovas Lapinas. "I thought it would be cool to have that in my city where I grew up. It would just be special.

"It definitely would be worth trying to get them here in the future. I can see it happening."

Not everyone was convinced this would be possible. The movement for Chicago in 2016 was covered with great rigor from Chicago's active press corps. And although many in Chicago supported the bid, some worried that taxpayers would be stuck with the bill.

The time and money spent in a failed effort have been draining for some Chicagoans.

"I think it's going to be a long time before the city of Chicago attempts anything like this again, of this magnitude," Howard said.

But Chicagoans didn't take the announcement as a blow to their civic pride.

"To be honest, Chicago is a great city," Litchfield said. "We know that. The Olympic bid team knows that. We should be proud of what we did to bring us up on the world stage. We'll root for another time."

Only moments earlier the crowd had been so optimistic and resembled one at a raucous Chicago Bears football game. When the IOC announced Chicago would have the "No. 4" by its name on the electronic ballot, chants of "4," rose from the crowd.

Gaines then addressed reporters' questions about costs, and whether the city was ready for such a large variety of sports and huge responsibility.

"They have seven years to figure that out," Gaines said. "It's not like they're going to be awarded the Olympics and all [suddenly] run out of money.

"They've got smart people behind this. It's not like they put this together yesterday. They've been working 3½ years on this. I told my brother-in-law that this is the kind of thing that would put a smile on everyone's face and make them feel better about themselves."

In the build-up to the vote, several young athletes who would be old enough to compete in 2016 were introduced to the crowd. Then a video showing the planned Chicago venues, hosted by 2008 gymnastics gold medalist Shawn Johnson, drew huge applause.

Six-time NBA champion and 1992 Dream Team gold medalist Scottie Pippen said the city was ready to put on Olympic and Paralympic Games in a way that would put Barcelona, site of the 1992 Games, to shame.

"I think Chicago could make that venue look very bad," he said. "This city has always put on a great show, especially on the lakefront with fireworks and things of that nature. We have a little bit more to offer. The city is gorgeous.

"We could put up as good of an Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony as there's ever been."

They won't get the chance.

The crowd dispersed disappointed, but the Olympic flame still burns on with some.

"It's a great movement," Litchfield said. "As President Obama said this morning, it brings people together across the world and it's something no other event does.

"So while we can't host it here in Chicago this time, as Cubs fans like to say, there's always next time."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc. Gene Chamberlain is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This story was not subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee or any National Governing Bodies.

 

 

 

Tags: Gene Chamberlain, Chicago 2016, Rowdy Gaines