The US Olympic Committee (USOC) Chief Executive Jim Scherr pledged on Sunday to push Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

 

Scherr said a conference to boost the bid in Chigaco will be held January 15-17, with the participation of Olympic and Paralympic sports leaders.

 

He said the conference will create a strong partnership with US sports organizations and further strengthen Chigaco's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games.

 

Sports on the programs of the Olympic Summer and Winter Games, the Pan American and Paralympic Games have been invited to the conference to create a forum for feedback with Chicago 2016, which is seeking further input from the sports leaders at the event, Scherr said in a statement e-mailed to Xinhua.

 

"This bid, first and foremost, is based on sport," said Jim Scherr, the Chief Executive of the USOC, "and we welcome the opportunity to make this a mutually beneficial partnership with the leaders of Olympic and Paralympic sport in the United States," he said.

 

"These leaders of sports organizations will provide solid and meaningful input that will result in a plan that is strong from a sport and athlete perspective. This is one step in a solid partnership with our various sports bodies in the US."

 

About 90 leaders are expected to attend the conference, including sports administrators, technical experts and those with international responsibilities in the sport federations.

 

The group will be briefed by the USOC and Chicago 2016, participate in a venue tour of the planned Olympic and Paralympic sites and will have an opportunity to meet city leadership and Chicago 2016 board and committee members, said the statement.

 

"This is a great opportunity to meet our nation's top amateur sports leaders," said Patrick Ryan, Olympic bid Chairman and CEO. "We highly value their knowledge of sport, governance and legacy and look forward to hearing their insights. We hope they also share our vision and become ambassadors of Chicago's Olympic bid."

 

Chicago is competing for the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2016 Paralympic Games. The host city of the 2016 Games will be announced in October 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2008)