Seeing Double at Chicago 2016 Olympics Bid

Chicago 2016 director of sports Bill Scherr (left) with Jim Scherr, USOC chief executive. (ATR)(ATR) It’s believed to be an Olympics first: twin brothers holding key posts in the leadership of a bid for the Games.

They are the Scherrs. Jim, CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and brother Bill, director of sport for the Chicago 2016 bid.

Olympians both, they competed at the 1988 Games as wrestlers, Bill earning a bronze. Jim remained in sport, at USA Wrestling and then moving on to the USOC. Bill became an investment banker, working in the private sector in Chicago.

Now they are united in a common goal, bringing the Olympics back to the U.S. Jim tried once already, with the ill-fated bid from New York City four years ago. Since then, Chicago emerged as the U.S. nominee for 2016, with Bill in a prominent role as head of World Sport Chicago, the organization which was formed to promote international sports events in the city as a promotion for the city’s candidacy.

“I think there’s been a big buzz among IOC members, the international federations and the NOCs: 'Wait a minute there’s two of these guys,'" says Jim about the surprise factor.”

“It has allowed us to have a nice entrée to conversations plus a lot of face recognition,” says the USOC executive.

Bill calls it “a nice development.”

“It allows me to be closer to Jim, work more closely with him, spend more time with him.”

The Scherrs, 47, hail from Mobridge, South Dakota and attended the University of Nebraska, where they both won national championships in their weight classes. But beyond competing together at the Olympics, the Chicago bid is the first time they have worked together professionally.

“The relationship will be just as close as when we were wrestling: we fight all the time,” says Bill jokingly. USA House in Beijing served as a hospitality center for the Chicago 2016 bid. (ATR)

“But in reality, Jim and I have always had a very close relationship. We talk on the phone every day and maintain a good connection between us. Twins are like that. It’s almost like when you’re a twin you breathe together. There couldn’t be any antagonism between us because twins are so close like that. It’s almost like we’re the same person in many respects,” Bill says.

Asked about the sometimes testy dealings between the USOC and the New York bid for 2012, Jim Scherr doesn’t answer directly but notes that USOC and Chicago work together closely.

“I think we have as good a relationship as we can possible have at this time with Chicago 2016, with mutual respect and partnership to try to bring the Games back to the United States. If we have an issue, something that needs to be resolved we pick up the phone. We have great comfort in the leadership of Chicago 2016,” he says.

“Personally, I think Bill, as an Olympian, as someone I know who is driven by what’s in the best interest of sport and athletes, gives me great comfort in the sport operation for Chicago 2016,” the USOC Scherr adds.

Bill Scherr says the improvement of USOC’s international relations is a noticeable change that works to Chicago’s benefit.

“They’ve done a lot in recent years to build the relationships with the international movement. We’re benefitting from that effort that the USOC has done. For me on the sports side, the USOC has been an open avenue to contacting Olympians, working with NGBs, they’ve been great in facilitating our work in those respects,” says Bill.

“Of course the relationship between the U.S. NOC and the bid is quite important and needs to be a good close partnership. And the fact that Jim and I have a close relationship and he’s a leader with the NOC and I’m a leader with the bid is very helpful in making sure that relationship is close. The Chicago Room at USA House gave visitors a bird’s eye view of the venues planned for the Games. (ATR)That’s a nice thing for the bid,” the Chicagoan adds.

Jim Scherr, as USOC CEO, tends to work directly with bid chairman Patrick Ryan and chief operating officer Dave Bolger on day-to-day matters, but says on sports issues, it’s peer-to-peer with his brother in Chicago.

“Our role is guidance and support. They (Chicago) have to lead the bid effort, they are the ones responsible for the involvement of their community. We’re offering our full support and partnership,” he says.

One aspect of that support in Beijing was the operation of USA House during the Games. Located in a multi-level restaurant at a downtown park in the shadow of Worker’s Stadium, USA House was easily one of the biggest and most sophisticated of any NOC house set up for the Beijing Olympics, eclipsing what rival bid cities Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo had available to them. Only Italy’s might have been larger, but there’s no Italian bid this time around.

Covering multiple levels, USA House had a large dining room overlooking a lake, a downstairs bar, retail outlet and private meeting rooms, including one for Chicago 2016.

“We think it’s helpful to the bid, to have part of USA House dedicated solely to the Chicago bid. Not only is there a place for Chicago to hold their meetings, it has a feel of the city, and the look and feel of the Chicago bid, and members can get an idea of the grand amenities of the city, the natural Chicago chair Patrick Ryan waits for lunch at the grill set up on the lakeside deck of USA House. (ATR)beauty that Chicago presents. Restriction on travel to a city makes a place like this very important,” says Jim Scherr.

Bill Scherr believes the USA House was a key component in the bid’s outreach to IOC members and other Olympic family members in Beijing. Dozens stopped by at some point to enjoy U.S. hospitality.

“I think that in this Games there has been a very warm welcoming attitude toward Chicago and the bid team. Everyone we meet has been gracious about trying to spend time with us, trying to give us some advice, some information that is helpful to us,” says Bill.

The other bid cities were also extended invitations to attend USA House, with bid leaders from Madrid and Tokyo stopping by at one point.

Jim Scherr is also positive on the impact of the Beijing experience on the Chicago bid.

“I think there are two critical aspects of how well this engagement at the Games went for Chicago 2016. One is learning from the international federations, the IOC members, the NOCs, what their expectations are, how Chicago can stage a great games. I think in that regard, Chicago has done exceptionally well.

“Second, getting the Chicago leadership out, getting them better known, getting the story of the bid communicated to these groups, has been done exceptionally well by Pat Ryan, the mayor, Bill, the entire team.”

And Jim Scherr also mentions the help the U.S. team at the Beijing Olympics has provided.

“The performance of the U.S. team has helped our image tremendously. Our team has behaved itself very well these Games, from top to bottom. They’ve really respected the country of China, the Olympic movement,” Scherr says.

And China’s lead in the gold medal category in Beijing may have played-out to the favor of the U.S., says Jim Scherr.

“The success of the Chinese team has created a bit of an underdog feel for the U.S. team which we haven’t felt in a while,” he says.

Written by Ed Hula

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