Philadelphia's 2016 Olympics Bid Misses the Cut

KYW’s Mike DeNardo reports Philadelphia found out Wednesday afternoon that its Olympic dreams for 2016 have faltered.

The US Olympic Committee has narrowed down the field of five cities vying for a possible American Olympic bid for the 2016 Summer Games.   Houston and Philadelphia were eliminated, leaving three cities to move their bids forward: Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

 

In an announcement in Denver heard live on KYW Newsradio 1060, the USOC said it has been analyzing information on possible Olympic venues and public support, and scratched Philadelphia and Houston off the list of possible contenders.

Click here to listen to the USOC's announcement.

Joe Torsella, co-chair of Philadelphia 2016, says the Olympic dream is not dead -- just deferred.

He says the city put forward a solid bid. And one thing that could improve it, is a better tradition of hosting international sporting events:

"Our commitment to being a partner in the Olympic movement and to raising our profile in the Olympic movement, and particularly in raising it in the international sports movement, all of that is something that I think that the Board of Directors -- almost every member on it -- shares."

Torsella says simply going through the Olympic process has helped to raise Philadelphia's profile on the world stage:

"Remembering this was our first-ever effort, and then when we started we set our sights -- we thought it might be 2024. To hear we're not going to get it in 2016, I am obviously disappointed. But I'm also tremendously proud."

Torsella says Philadelphia put forth a solid bid, but his understanding is that USOC polling and research showed that Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco had stronger international support.

 

KYW's Mike Dunn reports that Mayor Street issued a statement within minutes of the announcement saying he's disappointed by the decision.  He said Philadelphia will support whatever city is chosen to bid for 2016.

 

And the mayor said the city will continue its partnership with the USOC -- a relationship that Street said will be valuable "if and when (the city) pursues Olympic dreams again in the future."

Philadelphia made its pitch to the USOC, most recently a 15-minute in-person presentation in late June.  Key to the process is which of the five cities have the best shot going up against international competition.

  

The USOC says it has not yet determined whether any of the three remaining city bids will be forwarded to the International Olympic Committee for consideration.  Officials said that decision should be announced by the end of the year.