Sandusky says Chicago 2016 continues work after the IOC visit

April 23, 2009

In a private presentation to DePaul University journalism graduate students, Patrick Sandusky, Vice President of Communications for Chicago 2016, described some of the city’s Olympic bid strategies. He has been literally around the world to sell the case of Chicago 2016. “I’ve been with the bid since day one,” Sandusky said proudly, wearing a small pin fashioning the Chicago bid campaign symbol. He presented the “Chicago we showed the International Olympic Committee” who came to visit a few weeks ago (Apr. 3-7). The results of the sales pitch won’t be known until Sept. 2 when the IOC releases a summary report of all the bid cities.

What has now become a three-year running campaign, the Chicago 2016 group hopes that their efforts will succeed when the decision is announced Oct. 2 in Copenhagen. The recent visit was a chance for the IOC to “see Chicago in person, in reality” said Sandusky, stressing that this was a final chance to show that Chicago should get the bid. Sandusky said “the visit went really well.” The fact that his hopes are up means Chicago still has a running chance of being chosen. Using a golf analogy, Sandusky said “we kept it in the fairway” which is all that they could ask for. He recapped some of the presentations made during the visit:

Chicago is my kind of town. Apparently, it is unknown to the world outside of Chicago that there is an international scale of diversity the city has to offer. The video featured how Chicago can provide comfort, safety, transportation and entertainment. We wanted to focus the showcase on the people of Chicago as one of our assets Sandusky said. He further explained how the diversity in terms of everything including people, culture and sports makes Chicago a good option to host the international Olympic Games.

Art Institute impressions. “We only had one day to entertain them, one opportunity” said Sandusky. Chicago 2016 chose to host a small, private dinner for the IOC at the Art Institute’s new Modern Wing, overlooking Millennium Park and a spectacular skyline of buildings sporting “Chicago 2016.” Sandusky said the dinner was designed to highlight the city’s plans, people and culture. The location was selected because it represents successful private investments; both the Modern Wing and Millennium Park demonstrate public and private partnership funding.

Sandusky also stressed that Chicago offers things the other bids don’t. The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, and Art Institute among others are all preexisting things that come with the bid and are available for spectators to enjoy, all conveniently located steps from the proposed venues. Chicago culture is a strong value presented in the bid and a “proposition no other city will offer.”

Let Friendship Shine. Chicago 2016 showcased the people of Chicago and their smiling faces. The diversity of the people is documented in Chicago 2016’s “Hello Sister” video, which features a clip of young girls from diverse backgrounds saying “hello sister” in their native languages, with Oprah’s voice narrating. This video reminds us that Chicago is a sister city to 27 other cities around the world and has a strong international nature (and the power of Oprah).

Animated flight over Chicago. Chicago 2016’s bid also focuses on the compactness of the Games. This clip said the Games would be “in the center of the city, in the center of a nation.” Sandusky rattled off some facts: “eighty-five percent of the venues would be within eight kilometers of the Olympic ring near the heart of the city providing central, easy movement, integrated into the culture of the city. Seventy-nine percent of the sports would take place in existing and temporary venues.” This computer animated presentation painted the picture of the Olympic scene, highlighting how compact and convenient the locations would be.

But now that the IOC visit has passed, Chicago 2016 is working on the domestic level and trying to convince three million Chicagoans that hosting the Olympics would be a good thing. Sandusky said he’s working on a “multilayer campaign” for many different people. He presents that the Games will stimulate Chicago economy because it brings people to the city that wouldn’t have been there before. “There will be a direct economic impact: bring $22 billion in Illinois, $13 billion in Chicago alone, and 300,000 jobs over 11 years,” said Sandusky.

“But that’s not why we’re bidding for it,” said Sandusky as he turned his focus away from economy towards Chicago’s youth. He said that the Olympics would not only build a lasting impression that would get kids active in sports, but it would leave facilities that the public could use. The locations for proposed events make use of land in places like Washington Park, Northerly Island, and Michael Reese Hospital. “Even though we are a private bid, we are looking to help Chicago,” Sandusky said.

A video clip demonstrated how children active in sports programs, particularly Olympic sports like gymnastics, are taken off the street and taught to be goal-oriented, committed, hardworking. These sports programs, like World Sport Chicago featured in the video, give kids a motivational boost that will keep them out of trouble. Sandusky said the Olympics would attract children to sports and the facilities would be scaled back after the Games ended so that the community could use them. This approach to emotional appeal makes it clear that Chicago 2016 is offering a sales pitch, hoping they are successful in bringing home the Games.

We need to “convince the IOC that we will bring the most to the Olympic movement” said Sandusky. With all the presentations about diversity and culture, how could we not?