Bidding for the Games: 2016 Cities Ready for Denver

The Sportaccord convention in Denver from Mar. 23 to 27 will provide the biggest international meet and greet of the year for Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.

The convention is expected to draw as many as a couple dozen IOC members, along with over 1,500 delegates, many of them connected to international federations, an important group for bid cities to cultivate.

Each city will have a stand in the exhibition area of Sportaccord, a first for the 2016 campaigners.

Mar. 26 brings the four cities together for a series of 30-minute presentations at the close of Sportaccord. The cities are all expected to hold press conferences following the event.

Each city is allowed to bring an official delegation numbering ten.

New USOC Leaders in Denver for Chicago 2016

The new chairman and CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee make their debuts as members of the U.S. bid team at Sportaccord.

Larry Probst took over as chairman in October, while Stephanie Streeter became USOC CEO earlier this month in a sudden change of power, replacing Jim Scherr.

While Scherr won’t be in Denver, his twin brother Bill will be, as sports director of the Chicago bid.

Mayor Richard Daley has a credential waiting for him in Denver, the powerful politico the only government representative on the Chicago team.

Other Chicago 2016 delegates include bid chair and CEO Patrick Ryan, Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee, USOC Vice President Bob Ctvrtlik and international relations director Bob Fasulo.

While in Denver, the new USOC leaders could be forging a new deal with the IOC over revenue sharing. The deal in place gives the USOC the largest slice of revenues among the world’s national Olympic committees.

While a new agreement might help the standing of Chicago in the race for the Games, spokesman Patrick Sandusky says the bid committee is staying out of the negotiations.

"This is an issue between the IOC and the USOC and we are confident that they will reach a solution that is appropriate for all parties involved," he says.

"As a bid we need to stay focused on showcasing to the IOC that we will be the best possible host in 2016 for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We believe that there are good people on each side of the issue that will come to an outcome that is beneficial to all."

Madrid Push Safest Choice Message

Mayor of Madrid Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon leads theSpanish bid’s delegation to Sportaccord where the theme of its presentation will focus on the Spanish capital as the safest choice for the 2016 Games. And amid the economic downturn it is a message that may resonate well at the sport convention in Denver.

The high-level delegation includes Secretary of State for Sport Jaime Lissavetzky and CEO Mercedes Coghen.

They will be accompanied by directors of the bid: Antonio Fernandez Arimany, managing director; Gerardo Corral, deputy managing director; Raul Chapado, sports & projects director; Juan Antonio Villanueva, communications director and Tania Paessler, international relations director.

Rio de Janeiro Team Includes Government Leaders

Rio de Janeiro plans to send an official delegation to Sportaccord that includes leaders from city, state and federal government. The government contingent includes Mayor Eduardo Paes, Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral and Federal Sports Minister Orlando Silva.

This trio of public officials has become a constant for the bid at major events such as Sportaccord.

Along with the government leaders is the real mainstay of the bid, Carlos Nuzman -- IOC member, Brazilian Olympic Committee president and head of the Rio 2016 bid.

Nuzman tells Around the Rings that he believes the depth of government support for the bid, including "total guarantees" must be considered by the IOC.

Also with him will be Carlos Osório, bid secretary general, communications and marketing director Leonardo Gryner, international relations director Mario Cilenti and Adriana Behar, beach volleyball silver medalist in Sydney and Athens.

Tokyo to Introduce Heroes Concept in Denver

Sportaccord is the first opportunity for Tokyo 2016 to present its ‘Setting the Stage for Heroes’ concept to the Olympic Family, a spokesman tells Around the Rings.

Leading the delegation to Denver is the bid’s chair and CEO, Ichiro Kono, who will be accompanied by

Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda, IOC Vice President and Executive Board member of Tokyo 2016 Chiharu Igaya and Vice Chair of the Tokyo 2016 Athletes' Commission Yuko Arakida.

"We will take this opportunity to introduce our new concept, 'Setting the Stage for Heroes,' explaining firsthand how Tokyo is working to make the most of its unique combination of excellent host city assets, world-class venue plan and sports-loving people to put athletes in the best possible environment for achieving heroic performances in 2016," the Tokyo spokesman said.

Briefs...

...A group called "No Games Chicago" has received a permit to protest in Federal Plaza on April 2, two days before the IOC Evaluation Commission officially begins its visit. Protestors believe the city's money should be spent on affordable housing, education, mass transit and other community needs instead of the Olympics.

...The Tokyo bid won support this week from both houses of the Japanese Parliament which confirmed their backing for the bid. Tokyo’s proposed IBC/MPC venue is in the spotlight this week with the staging of Tokyo International Anime Fair 2009, the world's premier exhibition of Japan's distinctive anime culture. Running from March 18-21, it is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors and media to a state-of-the-art waterfront convention center.

...In Madrid this week, IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. underlined the importance of the "vitality and certainty" slogan to a gathering of Spanish directors of sports federations.

...The Rio de Janeiro bid was the theme for this week’s luncheon of the Rio branch of the American Chamber of Commerce in Brazil. "We will make the most of the opportunity to collaborate with the Rio 2016 Bid Committee and all levels of government to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Rio in 2016," said branch president Joao Cesar Lima.

With reporting from Mark Bisson, Karen Rosen and Ed Hula.