The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it has issued a reprimand against Svetlana Terenteva, ice hockey player from the Russian Federation for an anti-doping rule violation.

On the afternoon of 6 February 2010, Ms Terenteva was requested to provide a urine sample for a pre-competition doping control. The analysis of the A sample indicated the presence of the prohibited substance tuaminoheptane. Tuaminoheptane is a prohibited substance ‘in competition’ but not ‘out of competition’.

The IOC set up a Disciplinary Commission (DC) on 9 February. The DC heard the athlete on 10 February. During the hearing, the athlete admitted that she had used Rhinofluimucil under prescription to cure a bad head cold in January, but that she had stopped using it on 3 February 2010, as she knew the substance would be prohibited during the period of the Olympic Games, starting on 4 February 2010.

The Disciplinary Commission unanimously concluded that the athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation in that there was the presence of the prohibited substance, tuaminoheptane, in her body, regardless of the date she had taken Rhinofluimucil.

However, the Disciplinary Commission also noted the following:

• the Athlete spontaneously declared that, knowing Rhinofluimucil was a prohibited “in competition” substance, she had therefore stopped taking it on 3 February 2010;

• the Athlete admitted the use of a prohibited substance and confirmed the result of the A sample, and therefore refrained from asking that the B sample be opened for analysis;

• the Athlete’s use of Rhinofluimucil was during an out-of-competition period, at which time the use of the substance was not prohibited;

• the prohibited substance, tuaminoheptane, would be out of her system well before the date of the Athlete’s first competition at the Vancouver Games, namely, 14 February 2010;

• the Russian team doctor was aware that the Athlete had been taking Rhinofluimucil;

• the Athlete was totally open and cooperative;

• this was the Athlete’s first violation during her long career, having participated in the World Championship on four occasions since 2001.

The Disciplinary Commission therefore took the following decision:

I. The athlete, Svetlana Terenteva, Russian Federation, ice hockey is issued a reprimand;

II. The NOC of the Russian Federation is reminded to ensure, by all means, that the athletes and officials of its delegation comply with all anti-doping rules;

III. To forward this Decision to the International Ice Hockey Federation for any further action within its own competence, as it may deem appropriate; and

IV. This decision shall enter into force immediately.

The full decision can be found here.

Under the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, testing takes place under the IOC’s auspices from 4 to 28 February. Within that period, the IOC systematically performs tests before and after events. After each event, the IOC systematically carries out tests on the top five athletes plus two at random.

For the duration of the Vancouver Games, the IOC will carry more than 2,000 tests, of which around 500 will apply to urine EPO detection and 400 will be blood tests.

As of 10 February, 634 samples have been collected.

Consortium reinvents how Games coverage will be delivered

Canadians to experience Olympic Games like never before

Record 4,800 hours of live Vancouver 2010 coverage

It’s a completely new way to experience the Olympic Games. With one month to go until the Opening Ceremony, Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium announced today the most ambitious media initiative in Canadian history.

The Consortium will deliver unprecedented choice and access in a broadcast plan that is unlike anything seen before anywhere in the world. The strategy is designed to allow Canadians to experience the Games on their own terms – to watch what they want, when they want and how they want. Viewers can access three levels of experience: Best of the Best (on CTV and V), Extended (on TSN, Rogers Sportsnet, RDS and others), and Complete (on CTVOlympics.ca and RDSOlympiques.ca). The Olympic Games experience will also be delivered by the Consortium via online, radio, print, mobile, VOD, theatre, and in person at local events.

“Throw away any pre-conceived notions you may have about an Olympic Games broadcast,” said Ivan Fecan, President and Chief Executive Officer, CTVglobemedia and Chief Executive Officer, CTV Inc. “We are giving consumers complete control of their Olympic Games experience, tailored for our digital age.”

“We have seen an evolution in the way Canadians consume media, and as content providers, we have an obligation to deliver on those desires and expectations. And that is precisely what we aim to accomplish,” said Keith Pelley, President, Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium.

Viewers can choose the intensity of their Olympic Games experience:

Best of the Best – All the ‘big’ moments will be featured live on CTV and V (with French-language coverage produced by RDS). Viewers won’t miss any of these key moments from Vancouver 2010, as the two channels will provide live coverage of the top stories and most significant events at any given time, including every single Canadian medal victory. In addition to live event coverage, CTV and V will present highlights from events happening concurrently on other channels, directing viewers to additional networks for extended coverage of certain events.

Extended - Companion networks, including TSN, RDS and Rogers Sportsnet, will present live coverage of key events from start to finish. Full hockey games, curling matches, alpine skiing races, figure skating programs, speed skating, sliding events and more will air in their entirety on these channels.

Complete – Every second of every competition will be provided live on the Consortium’s two websites CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca. With up to 14 concurrent live streams available, the websites will host live feeds from five networks (CTV, TSN, Rogers Sportsnet, V and RDS) as well as the live host broadcast stream of every sport and discipline from beginning to end of competition. For coverage viewers don’t often get to see – such as the 65th-ranked alpine skier from the Cayman Islands – CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca offer access like never before. Viewers won’t miss a second of the action.

The Olympic Games transcend sports, and as such, the Consortium will roll out the red carpet for all the glamour and glitz as the ETALK and FASHIONTELEVISION teams cover the celebrity sightings, style, fashion and pop culture of the Games. MuchMusic also heads out west for a daily double dose of the music, sights and sounds of the Games with MOD Live @ The Base, as well as exclusive coverage of the star-studded nightly concerts from the Vancouver and Whistler Victory Ceremonies. CTV and Rogers’ industry-leading news organizations will also be front and centre with frequent daily reports on the politics, protests and topical issues of the Games.

In an Olympic Games first, the Consortium will deliver every second of every competition LIVE from Vancouver 2010, encompassing more than 4,800 hours of coverage in 22 languages on 12 television channels, 20 radio stations and two dedicated websites. In all, the Consortium will present more than 2,250 hours of coverage on television, 2,350 hours online and 200 hours on radio. The Consortium’s coverage of Vancouver 2010 on television alone is more than double the amount of Canadian television coverage made available in English and French for Turin 2006 (1,009 hours). Coverage of Vancouver 2010 will be produced entirely in High Definition and will be presented from February 12 to 28 across the following platforms:

- Television (English) – CTV, TSN, Rogers Sportsnet, OLN, APTN, MuchMusic
- Television (French) – V, RDS, RIS Info Sports, APTN
- Television (Multilingual) – OMNI.1, OMNI.2, ATN, APTN
- Online – CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca
- Radio (English) – Rogers Radio: THE FAN 590 Toronto, THE FAN 960 Calgary, Mountain FM Whistler, News 1130 Vancouver, 680 News Toronto, 660 News Calgary, News 95.7 Halifax, News 88.9 St. John, News 91.9 Moncton, 570 News Kitchener
- Radio (French) – Corus Quebec: CKAC Sports, 96.9 CKOI, 98.5 FM and Info690 Montreal, 102.9 Souvenirs garantis Quebec, 102.1 CKOI Quebec,
104.7 Souvenirs garantis Outaouais, 98.3 Souvenirs garantis Saguenay, 104.5 CKOI Estrie, 106.9 Souvenirs garantis Mauricie
- Print – The Globe and Mail
- Theatre – live coverage available in 64 Cineplex theatres throughout Canada during the Games, with CTV Olympic Games Broadcast at Cineplex
- Mobile – exclusive live video streaming on Bell Mobility, live coverage of men’s and women’s hockey, recaps, highlights and unique mobile features
- Video on Demand – details to be announced in the coming weeks
- CTV Olympic Celebration – details to be announced in the coming weeks

To help viewers navigate their Olympic Games experience, CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca offer an all-encompassing interactive digital Viewers’ Guide, presented by Bell. Launching February 1 at CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca and as a mobile application, the Viewers’ Guide is fully customizable offering Canadians complete control over their Vancouver 2010 experience. The Viewers’ Guide also enables and instructs fans to set reminders and alerts as well as program their Bell TV PVR by specific sport or event, ensuring they don’t miss any of the action or results.

Source: CANADA’S OLYMPIC BROADCAST MEDIA CONSORTIUM – OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES – ENGLISH

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reallocated the medals won by Marion Jones at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

The IOC disqualified Jones on 12 December 2007 from the five Olympic Games events in which she participated at the Sydney Games, and one event she competed in at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens after she admitted to using a prohibited substance prior to, during and after the 2000 Games.

The medals are allocated as follows:

100m, where Jones placed 1st:
Gold: Not awarded
Silver: Ekatirini Thanou (Greece)
Silver: Tanya Lawrence (Jamaica)
Bronze: Merlene Ottey (Jamaica)

200m, where Jones placed 1st:
Gold: Pauline Davis-Thompson (Bahamas)
Silver: Susanthika Jayasinghe (Sri Lanka)
Bronze: Beverly McDonald (Jamaica)

Long Jump, where Jones placed 3rd:
Bronze: Tatyana Kotova (Russia)

The reallocation of the medals for the 4 x 400m relay and 4 x 100m relay, where Jones’ teams placed first and third respectively, is still pending the outcome of an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced agreements with MediaCorp, SingTel and StarHub to become the official broadcasters within Singapore for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010.

Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), the host broadcast subsidiary wholly owned by the IOC, will be responsible for delivering to these three organisations, as well as to broadcasters around the world, a number of live broadcast feeds and  a 24-hour Youth Olympic News Channel, which will incorporate two daily highlight programmes. The coverage will embrace all broadcast platforms, including free-to-air television, radio, cable television, mobile phone and online.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “The first ever Youth Olympic Games will be an important moment for the Olympic Movement. It is the first time we have launched a new event since the first ever Winter Games in 1924. Today’s announcement is a big step forward in ensuring that the Youth Olympic Games are available to viewers on all broadcast platforms, both within Singapore and around the world.”

IOC Executive Board member Richard Carrión, who led the negotiations, said: “I would like to thank MediaCorp, SingTel and StarHub for their hard work in making today’s announcement a possibility. The Youth Olympic Games are aimed not only at those young people competing in Singapore, but also to young people around the world, and we are delighted that we are in a position to be able to make this a reality via live and on- demand broadcast.”

OBS Managing Director Manolo Romero said: ”OBS is excited to be participating in the launch of this visionary initiative of the IOC, by providing broadcasters around the world with comprehensive coverage of the first ever Youth Olympic Games. The broadcast of the Games will endeavour not only to capture the major sports achievements of the young athletes, but will also have a special focus on the cultural and educational components of the Games.”

Mr Shaun Seow, MediaCorp Deputy CEO (News, Radio, Interactive & Print) said: “We are very pleased and honoured to be appointed as an official broadcaster for free-to-air television and radio for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.  We are equally excited to be working alongside Olympic Broadcasting Services to bring the live action of the Games to viewers through our daily coverage of the Games.”

Mr Edward Ying, Chief, Content and Media Services Group, SingTel, said: “SingTel is very pleased to have the opportunity to bring the excitement of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games to audiences around the region.  Our innovative applications and reliable network will help us to connect with young people, as well as enabling them to catch every single moment of the Games via their favourite delivery mediums – the mobile phone and the internet.”

StarHub Chief Operating Officer, Tan Tong Hai, said: “As a full service provider, we look forward to delivering unparalleled coverage of the Youth Olympic Games across our suite of pay TV, mobile and internet platforms. We are delighted to be able to celebrate and showcase the achievements of the young athletes through multiple channels dedicated to the simultaneous broadcast of live events, as well as the Youth Olympic News Channel, which will be made available free and round-the-clock to all viewers in Singapore.”

MediaCorp has been granted the exclusive broadcast rights on free-to-air television and radio within Singapore, and non-exclusive right to broadcast clips on a delayed basis in English on Channel News Asia, MediaCorp’s proprietary television news channel.

SingTel has been granted the exclusive broadcast rights for the Youth Olympic News Channel on the mobile phone platform within Singapore. In addition, it has acquired the rights to the Youth Olympic News Channel and the live feeds in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand on the mobile phone platform.

Additionally, SingTel will cooperate with OBS to develop an internet webcasting solution with a view to maximising the exposure of the Youth Olympic Games internationally.

StarHub has been granted the exclusive broadcast rights to the live feeds on the pay cable television and mobile phone platforms within Singapore, as well as the exclusive broadcast rights for the Youth Olympic News Channel within Singapore on its free Preview Channel, Channel 01.

All three organisations have also acquired the non-exclusive right to broadcast the Youth Olympic Games online (live and on-demand) within Singapore.

In addition to today’s announcement, the IOC has informed all existing official Olympic broadcast partners (in territories outside Singapore) that they have the opportunity to acquire the right to broadcast the Youth Olympic Games within their territory without charge, if they guarantee certain levels of exposure across all media platforms.

The official IOC and Singapore 2010 web sites will also broadcast the Games online (live and on demand) to viewers around the world free of charge.

The Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, to be held between 14 and 26 August 2010, will bring together 3,600 athletes between 14 and 18 years of age from all 205 National Olympic Committees to compete in the 26 sports on the London 2012 Olympic Games programme. A fully fledged educational programme will raise participants’ awareness of the Olympic values and topics such as healthy lifestyles and the fight against doping. A number of communications initiatives will link the young people of the world with the event. A cultural programme will ensure a festive and pleasant atmosphere within the host city.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded broadcast rights for the Olympic Games in 2010 and 2012 to ESPN in South America, it was announced today.

ESPN will acquire free-to-air television and radio broadcast rights in Argentina for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games and the London 2012 Olympic Games, including minimum free-to-air exposure guarantees; pay television rights to air the Games on cable and satellite platforms in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay for the same period; and satellite-only television rights in Venezuela for the same period.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said “The popularity of the Olympic Games in South America is growing rapidly, and we want to ensure that audiences in the region have the best possible broadcast experience. We are delighted to announce this agreement with ESPN and look forward to working with them.”

IOC Executive Board member Richard Carrión, who led the negotiations, said, “ESPN will provide unprecedented levels of coverage of the Olympic Games, which is great news for sports fans in South America. We would like to thank ESPN for their commitment to the Olympic Movement.”

“This is a tremendous milestone for ESPN’s business in South America,” said Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, ESPN International.  “This agreement expands our relationship with the IOC and adds the Olympic Games to the schedule of world class events we cover.  The Olympics is on the world’s most inspiring events and we are very excited to bring it to sports fans around South America.”

“The scope of this agreement offers us a tremendous opportunity to serve sports fans in South America,” said Tim Bunnell, Senior Vice President, Programming and Marketing, ESPN International.  “The Olympic Games are at the pinnacle of all sporting events and I am pleased that ESPN can utilise and leveraqe its platforms to showcase an event of this magnitude to fans in South America.”

Ten months after the announcement of the host city on 12 December 2008, the Innsbruck Organising Committee (IYOGOC) has established all the foundations necessary to stage the Games in 2012. “We are impressed with the progress of preparations and the quality of the venues to be used for the Youth Olympic Games. IYOGOC is very much on track with the involvement of all local authorities through the Olympia Forum Tirol,” said Gian-Franco Kasper, Chairman of the Coordination Commission, at the end of the visit.

The Coordination Commission had the opportunity to visit all venues in Innsbruck and Seefeld that will stage the 63 events in seven sports.

IYOGOC presented its updated Youth Olympic Village concept which defines the location of dining facilities and services for NOC delegations at Innsbruck Congress Centre alongside the Culture and Education Programme (CEP) activities. The members* of the Coordination Commission are convinced that this combination of facilities will foster a sociable and highly interactive atmosphere where athletes will be able to live together and learn in optimal conditions.

The Organising Committee presented its initial CEP concept and how it intends to reach out to young people both digitally and physically through partnerships such as Tirol Marketing Service. “The Youth Olympic Games shall be a great experience not only for the athletes, but also for the whole Tyrolean community,” said Tyrolean Vice-Governor Hannes Gschwentner.

One of the greatest challenges faced by IYOGOC will be the timely construction of the apartment buildings that will constitute the residential zone of the Youth Olympic Village. The project will require close monitoring and collaboration between the Organising Committee and the developers to ensure that construction and planning are well integrated.

”Presentations were of a high standard and we have the feeling that our partners in Innsbruck have well understood the mission entrusted to them. With only two years to go before the opening of the Games, we will have to keep up both pace and vigilance with regards to preparations,” concluded Gian-Franco Kasper.

During preparations, Innsbruck will of course also benefit from the experience of the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010.

The Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, to be held between 13 and 22 January 2012, will bring together 1,048 athletes between 14 and 18 years of age from approximately 80 National Olympic Committees to compete in the seven sports on the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games programme. A fully fledged education programme will raise participants’ awareness of the Olympic values and topics like healthy lifestyles and the fight against doping. A number of communications initiatives will link the youth of the world with the event. A culture programme will ensure a festive and pleasant atmosphere within the host city.

*Members of the Coordination Commission: Gian-Franco Kasper, IOC member and Chairman; Ottavio Cinquanta, IOC member; Pernilla Wiberg, IOC member; Rebecca Scott, IOC member; Victor Khotochkin, NOC representative; Robert Storey**, IF representative; Janko Dvorsak, EYOF Coordination Commission member; and Gilbert Felli, IOC Olympic Games Executive Director. The Coordination Commission is the group of representatives from the IOC and the Olympic Movement who will be monitoring the Youth Olympic Games preparations and guiding the Innsbruck Organising Committee.

(** not present at the 1st Coordination Commission meeting in Innsbruck)

The sports of golf and rugby sevens have been voted today by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session for inclusion in the programme of the 2016 Olympic Games – awarded to Rio de Janeiro. The two sports had been recommended by the IOC Executive Board (EB) in August following an extensive evaluation by the Olympic Programme Commission of the seven sports seeking to enter the programme.

“Both golf and rugby are very popular sports with global appeal and a strong ethic,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge. “They will be great additions to the Games.”

The two sports, voted on separately in alphabetical order of the sports, golf then rugby, received a simple majority of votes cast by the members of the Session. The result of the first vote was not revealed to the Session until the vote for the second sport had taken place. The IOC President elected not to take part in the vote.

“The International Golf Federation is absolutely delighted by today’s results. We thank the IOC for the thorough process and we are looking forward to playing our part as a member of the Olympic Movement,” said Peter Dawson, Secretary General of the International Golf Federation. “This is great for golf and we hope to be of great benefit to the Olympic Games as well.”

Bernard Lapasset, President of the International Rugby Board, said: “I am so delighted and proud. My thanks to the IOC members for their wonderful support. Rugby is honoured to be a part of the Olympic Sports Programme and we are already looking forward to Rio 2016.”

Golf was played at the Games in 1900 in Paris and in 1904 in St Louis, while rugby was part of the programme of four editions of the Games between 1900 and 1924.

In addition to the two new sports, the Session also voted to accept the list of 26 core sports on the programme for the Olympic Games in 2016.

During the 119th Session in Guatemala City in 2007, the IOC approved a simplified voting process for new sports to enter the programme. The IOC members also requested guidance from the EB in the selection of the new sports and entrusted it to make a proposal to the Session based on the work of the Olympic Programme Commission.

In 2002, the IOC decided to conduct a systematic review of the Olympic programme after every edition of the Games to ensure that it remains exciting and relevant.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) re-elected IOC President Jacques Rogge by An 88-1 vote at the close of the 121st Session.

After thanking the IOC members for their continued support, Rogge outlined an ambitious second-term agenda to strengthen and improve the Olympic Movement.

“We have much more to do,” he told his colleagues. Rogge said one of his top priorities is be to implement the recommendations of the recently completed XIII Congress. He also emphasised the importance of the new Youth Olympic Games, which will debut in Singapore in August, followed by the Youth Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012

“We will take this initiative from infancy to maturity and leave a lasting legacy for the world’s youth,” he said. “We will safeguard and strengthen our assets, and improve our framework for sharing revenues.

“We will continue to support National Olympic Committees and the International Federations, and we will defend the autonomy of sport wherever it is threatened.

“We will be staunch allies for athletes. We will continue to lead the fight against doping, and we will establish a new independent monitoring body to combat irregular betting and match fixing.
“We will narrow the gap in sport between the developed and the developing worlds; and between men and women.

“We will redouble our efforts to place sport at the service of mankind — to inspire young and old alike; to give athletes the opportunity to lead by example; and promote the Olympic values of fair play, respect, solidarity and the pursuit of excellence.”

Rogge, who was first elected at the 112th IOC Session in Moscow in 2001, is the eighth IOC President. The IOC has undertaken a series of reforms during his tenure to improve IOC governance and maintain the Games as the world’s premier sporting event.

The changes include a more structured system to routinely review and refresh the Olympic sports programme; improvements in judging and refereeing; an aggressive anti-doping programme; and steps to restrain the size and cost of the Games.

The IOC has quadrupled its financial reserves during Rogge’s term — from $105 million in 2001 to well over $400 million today — while distributing record revenue to International Federations, National Olympic Committees and the Olympic Solidarity programme, which offers financial and training assistance to athletes.

Other initiatives have sought to spread the Olympic values through programmes in the fields of education, culture, women’s advancement, the environment and Sport for All. The IOC adopted the UN’s Millennium Development Goals and the environmental goals of Agenda 21, and forged closer ties with the UN to support the Olympic Truce, development through sport, education, humanitarian aid and health protection around the world.

Rogge has long and varied experience with the Olympic Movement. He competed in the sailing competitions at the Games of the Olympiad in Mexico in 1968, Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. He was also a member of the Belgian national rugby team.

He served as President of the Belgian National Olympic Committee from 1989 to 1992. He became President of the European Olympic Committees in 1989, an IOC member in 1991 and an Executive Board member in 1998.

Rogge, 67, was born in Ghent, Belgium, and is an orthopaedic surgeon by profession. He and his wife, Anne, have two adult children.

Rogge is the first IOC President to serve under terms limits approved by the IOC Executive Board in late 1999. Presidents are restricted to an eight-year term, followed by a single four-year term.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has elected Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) as the host city of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016 during its 121st Session in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rio de Janeiro received 66 votes compared to Madrid’s 32 in the final round of voting.

IOC President Jacques Rogge congratulated Rio de Janeiro on its election and praised the high quality of the bid, “I would like to congratulate the city of Rio de Janeiro on its election as the host of the 2016 Olympic Games. Rio de Janeiro presented the IOC with a very strong technical bid, built upon a vision of the Games being a celebration of the athletes and sport, as well as providing the opportunity for the city, region and country to deliver their broader long-term aspirations for the future. This call to “live your passion” clearly struck a chord with my fellow members and we now look forward to seeing Rio de Janeiro stage the first Olympic Games on the continent of South America. Well done, Rio!”

( source IOC Media)

Rogge also thanked the other competing cities of Chicago (USA), Tokyo (Japan) and Madrid (Spain), “Unfortunately, there can only be one victor in this competition and I’d like to thank the cities of Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid for participating. Their projects and dedication to spreading the Olympic values throughout their countries and beyond has been outstanding. Despite not being elected today, these cities have all seen the benefit of being candidates for the Games. I would like to congratulate them all for their efforts and for their commitment to the Olympic Movement.”

Results:

ROUND 1 :
MADRID:                                  28
RIO DE JANEIRO:                  26
TOKYO:                                    22
CHICAGO:                               18

ROUND 2:
RIO DE JANEIRO:                  46
MADRID:                                   29
TOKYO:                                     20

ROUND 3:
RIO DE JANEIRO:                   66
MADRID:                                   32

United Airlines charter flight will display colorful Chicago 2016 logo

Chicago 2016 announced that it has teamed with United Airlines to charter a flight to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the final presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Boeing 747 will feature the Chicago 2016 logo and will be filled with hundreds of supporters en route to Copenhagen where the IOC will select the Host City for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“With just seven days to go until the final decision, we appreciate everyone’s support and are honored that so many Chicagoans are traveling with us to Copenhagen for the big day,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “It is the enthusiasm of everyone in Chicago that makes this time in Chicago’s history so exciting. We thank United Airlines for being such a valuable partner in our efforts.”

Chicago 2016 will have a strong presence in Copenhagen for the historic event. On board the United Airlines flight will be Chicago 2016 committee members, supporters, athletes, media, staff and others. Chicago 2016 sold packages, including travel, accommodations and cultural events, for those wishing to attend to show their support for Chicago’s bid.

Members of the Chicago 2016 delegation will make the final presentation to the IOC on the morning of October 2, with the Host City announcement following later that evening.

“As Chicago’s hometown airline and official airline of the US Olympic and Paralympic Teams, United is proud to support Chicago’s and the U.S. bid for the 2016 Games, and be a partner in this historic event,” said Glenn Tilton, chairman, president and CEO of United Airlines. “We are very pleased that our flight crews, our customer service and ramp employees, and all of the other employees get to be a part of this momentous flight.”

Chicago 2016

Chicago 2016 is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The committee’s board consists of business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.