INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Chicago Mayor Daley Promotes 2016 Olympic Bid

Published: Wed 22 Nov 2006 04:42 PM
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TAGS: OVIP PREL SP
SUBJECT: CHICAGO MAYOR DALEY PROMOTES 2016 OLYMPIC BID
1. (U) Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, accompanied by a
delegation of eight including E.ON and Committee 2016 chairman
Patrick Ryan, Richard Karr, Chairman of International
Organizations Department/Sister Cities Program, and Mrs.
Margaret Daley, visited Barcelona November 19-22 to push
Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The delegation came
to Barcelona to gain insights from the city's experience hosting
the games in 1992. New Barcelona mayor Jordi Hereu hosted the
Chicago delegation and offered tours to the Olympic sites, many
of which continue to be used today.
2. (U) While here the delegation held a number of meetings with
current and former Olympic officials, including regional
President Pascal Maragall, former International Olympic
Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch, former Barcelona
mayor Narcis Serra, and Josep Miquel Abad, General Manager of
the Barcelona Olympic Committee. A center piece of the visit
was Mayor Daley's November 20 presentation to the American
Chamber of Commerce where he presented a slideshow highlighting
Chicago's merits as an Olympic city candidate. At a lunch
hosted by the CG, Mayor Daley exchanged views and information
with several business executives, who were important to bringing
the Games to Barcelona.
3. (SBU) Comment: Mayor Daley told his interlocutors he was
here "to learn from the Catalans how they continue to draw on
the success of the Games fourteen years on." He did not leave
disappointed. The delegation will return to Chicago with a
number of well-received ideas that will be useful should
Chicago's candidacy prove successful. Barcelona officials were
forced to tread lightly with this visit since Madrid is also
advancing in its effort to hold the 2016 Games. End Comment.
ROBINSON
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