Wednesday, September 2, 2009

2016 Olympics Bid City Capsules


Capsules of International Olympic Committee Evaluation Reports published Wednesday on cities bidding to host the 2016 Olympics.

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Chicago

The IOC said Chicago's proposed financing presents a risk. The city set a $750 million (?527 million) cap on guarantees to cover a shortfall in the organizing budget.

Overall, the budget is "ambitious but achievable.'' Chicago must generate $1.83 billion (?1.29 billion) in revenue from sponsors.

The bid placed a "heavy financial reliance'' on the organizing committee to deliver infrastructure and temporary venues.

However, Chicago demonstrated "thorough planning and a full understanding of the complexity'' of its venue plan, including temporary arenas in public parks.

Chicago proposes to use 15 existing venues plus one already planned; construct six permanent venues - including the Olympic Stadium and swimming arena - that would later be scaled down; and nine temporary venues.

Relying on temporary and scaled down venues "increases the element of risk'' in delivering the games.

The IOC questioned the ability of Chicago's public transport links and traffic control plans, especially around McCormick Place.

While the Olympic site was compact, it relied on a "significant increase'' in the capacity and use of public transport, including doubled peak-time demand on the Metra Rail System. This could be a "major challenge.''

On security, the IOC welcomed the federal government taking "full financial and operational responsibility.'' But it called for a clearer description of how the city and organizing committee would share roles and responsibilities to ensure the committee was not overburdened trying to deliver infrastructure.

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Madrid

Madrid enjoys the strongest public backing in IOC polls, with 84.9 percent of residents supporting the bid and only 2.8 percent strongly opposed.

But the bid team suffered from showing the IOC it did not fully understand the roles and responsibilities of delivering a complex, multi-sports event.

The confused management structure "could result in organizational and financial challenges,'' the IOC said.

National, regional and city governments have provided "strong'' financial support and would cover any potential shortfall in the organizing budget.

Madrid's concept is "highly compact'' and efficient with 23 of 33 venues in place and two more venues already being built.

It could face "significant'' challenges to create the Olympic Stadium and the venue for rowing, flat water canoeing and open water swimming.

All but two competition venues can be accessed by public transport within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of the city center. Shooting is just outside the zone and sailing is 361 kilometers (224 miles) away in Valencia with a separate athletes' village.

Madrid is praised for its buildings legacy. The city would own the athletes' village and the media village would later be used for social housing.

The IOC questioned whether Spanish anti-doping laws complied with the World Anti-Doping Agency code. The issue was "important'' to resolve.

Madrid suffered in comparison with its three rivals for providing documents and presentations that "varied in quality.''

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Rio de Janeiro

Rio has "strong'' public support in IOC polling, with 84.5 percent of residents in favor of the bid and only 4 percent strongly opposed.

City, state and federal governments have guaranteed to finance the infrastructure costs and cover any potential shortfall in the organizing budget.

Rio's venue plan would fit with ongoing urban regeneration, especially the city's waterways and key development zones, as part of a $240 billion (?169 billion) federal program.

The IOC said a Rio Olympics would accelerate delivery but also need "careful management and monitoring'' of projects.

Brazil's hosting of football's World Cup in 2014 will "accelerate infrastructure delivery'' in Rio. However, hosting the world's two biggest sports events within two years presents a "challenge'' to marketing and communications strategies.

Rio has accommodation issues with a shortage of hotel rooms. It plans to use four villages and six cruise ships to house people.

This project, plus a planned 20,000 room media village in Barra district, would require "particular attention'' in planning and delivery phases.

With public safety and crime levels a concern, Rio is praised for achieving positive results from engaging communities in social and sports programs.

Rio's geography of mountains and coastline could impact on travel distances for some athletes.

Effective transport operations - including dedicated Olympic road lanes and new infrastructure - would be "critical.''

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Tokyo

Praise and criticism for Tokyo follow consistent themes: finance is secure but public support is relatively low.

The city government has financially guaranteed the games and set aside a $3.7 billion (?2.6 billion) reserve fund.

National and city governments have guaranteed to finance infrastructure and cover any potential shortfall in the organizing budget.

Tokyo has the lowest public backing in IOC polls, with 55.5 percent of residents supporting the bid and 7.8 percent strongly opposed.

The bid aims to build on the legacy of Tokyo's successful hosting of the 1964 Summer Games in a "socially, environmentally and economically sustainable'' project.

The IOC praised the bid for minimizing athletes travel times with a "very efficient'' venue plan. All but the shooting would take place within 8 kilometers (5 miles) of the city center. But there was a "lack of clarity'' on claims that most venues are ready. Some "listed as existing would in fact need to be built.''

Tokyo also faces challenges to control traffic around the athletes' village and Olympic Stadium, and there's concern about the size of land area available to build the Olympic Village.

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