Olympic Committee leader asks for business community's support

About 150 area business leaders attended the annual meeting of the Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau on Thursday to hear an update on Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Among Chicago's potential assets would be the possible presidency of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, said Olympic Committee representative Michael Murane.

After the election of board members and the awarding of civic awards, Murnane gave a video presentation on Chicago's regional plan for gaining the Olympic nod.

"We want to make this a partnership and a two-way street," said Murnane, inviting area governments, businesses and organizations to join the effort.

A common misperception, Murnane said, is that the Olympic Committee gets funding from Chicago or other government agencies.

However, the 35-person organization is entirely funded by corporations and private donors.

Still, the organization gains a helping hand from area volunteers and pro bono work by area law and consulting firms.

Chicago is the U.S. hope for the Summer Olympics, and earlier this month its worldwide status was upgraded from an "applicant" city to a "candidate" city.

However, it is in a pitched competition with rival sites in Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan.

"We feel we can win based on our strengths," Murnane told the group at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest at Arlington Park.

The final decision by the International Olympic Committee isn't expected until August 2009, Murnane said.

Local backers are still attempting to decide upon an Olympic logo and slogan. "Be part of it" is a slogan being considered, Murnane said.

Among Chicago's attributes, Murnane mentioned the possible presidency of Obama, whose personal backing could hold sway both with the International Olympic Committee and with government funding entities, Murnane said.

The Chicago area's wide array of ethnicities and races also could appeal to the International Olympic Committee's diversity goals, said Murnane, who has been involved in reaching out to area ethnic and racial groups to get them involved.

As for benefits for local residents, Olympic plans often speed up infrastructure projects, such as public transportation, Murnane said.

Olympic Games in Chicago could also go a long way toward dispelling the Chicago image of the "hog butcher to the world" and as the home of former gangster Al Capone, Murnane said.

To end the meeting, Murnane played a four-minute promotional film showing where Olympic facilities are being proposed in Chicago.