Updated at 1:39 p.m., Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Olympics: Chicago officially U.S. bid city for '16 Games
By DEANNA BELLANDI
Associated Press Writer
Organizers were hopeful Tuesday they could triumph over cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Madrid.
The U.S. Olympic Committee formally submitted Chicago as its bid in a letter last week to IOC president Jacques Rogge in advance of a Sept. 13 deadline. It was a formality because the USOC has worked with Chicago on its bid since choosing the city over Los Angeles in April.
"We look forward to working with the International Olympic Committee in convincing them why we believe Chicago is the best host city," Mayor Richard Daley said while acknowledging "tough competition" from some of the "greatest cities in the world."
The Czech capital of Prague also officially entered the race Tuesday for the games, but its mayor acknowledged the chances of winning were slim because another European city — London — is hosting the 2012 Olympics.
But the IOC does not have a set policy of rotating the sites of the Olympics, and Madrid is considered a front-runner for 2016.
The IOC is expected to announce a final list of applicant cities for the 2016 Games on Sept. 14.
In Chicago, officials were upbeat about the success of an Olympics in a city enamored of its sports teams.
"This crazy sports town will pack venues and create an atmosphere that only Chicago can create," said former Olym## most venues and the athletes village situated in and around the city's core.
The next step is for the city to submit to the IOC by Jan. 14 an applicant questionnaire, which is a detailed description of organizers' plans. In June, the IOC will whittle the field to a short list and then select a host city in October 2009.
