HR1389 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1389 LRB095 21678 GRL 51885 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On October 2, 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will select the host city for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, commonly known as the 2016 Summer Olympic Games; and

WHEREAS, The Chicago 2016 Committee, working in cooperation with the United States Olympic Committee, has submitted a bid to host the 2016 Games; and

WHEREAS, On June 4, 2008, the International Olympic Committee placed the Chicago 2016 bid on its short list of four finalist Candidate Cities for the 2016 Games; and

WHEREAS, Although the International Olympic Committee has accepted Chicago's desire to be admitted to the rank of Candidate Cities, the IOC has at the same time called attention to what their permanent staff considers to be room for improvements in Chicago's bid, as measured on a variety of metrics; and

WHEREAS, These metrics include Chicago's highway and public transportation resources, and the city's overall infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, As a result of this showing, on the International Olympic Committee's overall numerical ranking, Chicago, on June 4, 2008, scored below two other cities also chosen as Candidate Cities for the 2016 Games, Madrid and Tokyo; and

WHEREAS, Only twenty-two cities around the world have been chosen to host a Summer Olympic Games, of which only three, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and St. Louis, have been cities located within the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, The United States Olympic Committee, and the separate United States Olympics teams, have entrusted their chance to see the Summer Olympic Games in North America in 2016 to the City of Chicago and the people of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics would allow Chicago to display itself to the world as a multi-ethnic city and a model for the future direction of all of the peaceful people of Earth; the direct economic benefits, indirect economic benefits, and prestige bestowed by the honor of hosting the Games of the XXXI Olympiad are literally incalculable; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the House of Representatives congratulates the Chicago 2016 Committee upon the selection of Chicago as a Candidate City for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois House of Representatives expresses its gratitude to the United States Olympic Committee for its support of Chicago's candidacy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois House of Representatives declares its support for the Chicago 2016 effort and stands ready to take whatever actions seem appropriate to assist that Chicago 2016 Committee as they prepare their Candidature File for the International Olympic Committee, which is due on February 12, 2009; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the people of Chicago and the State of Illinois should cooperate on a nonpartisan basis to deploy the resources necessary to meet the requirements requested by the International Olympic Committee and assure the world that these Games of the XXXI Olympiad will be successfully hosted by Chicago; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this resource deployment will require the enactment by Illinois of a comprehensive capital bill, which will provide billions of dollars for essential needs in the areas of roads, public transportation, and airports by fulfilling the promises within the bid application; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this preamble and resolution be presented to Governor Rod Blagojevich, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and Patrick G. Ryan, Chairman and CEO of the Chicago 2016 Committee.