The final pitches -- and then the vote for the Olympics

DECISION TIME | Board will pick today between Chicago and L.A. to vie for Games

WASHINGTON -- The leader of Chicago's Olympic committee acknowledged here Friday having "butterflies'' before today's pitch to host the 2016 Games -- a sales job that one of those being pitched to said is crucial to the city's chances.

"But if you don't have butterflies, you're not ready. Butterflies [mean] you're ready,'' said Patrick Ryan, Chicago 2016 Committee chairman.

The United States Olympic Committee board will vote between Chicago and Los Angeles with an announcement scheduled for 3 p.m.

That vote will come after both cities make final presentations. The winner will represent the United States against global competition for the Summer Games.

Even though both L.A. and Chicago officials have submitted hundreds of pages of details on how they would stage the games, had hours of discussion with USOC experts and hosted Olympic scout teams that visited each of the cities, "the final presentation is going to be decisive,'' said USOC Vice President Bob Ctvrtlik, one of 11 board members who will vote today.

The USOC is looking for a city that not only presents an exciting plan but a city that can inspire -- and cajole -- the International Olympic Committee's 100-plus members into choosing an American site when it votes in 2009.

To strengthen Chicago's pitch, the Chicago 2016 team has included Mayor Daley's brother William, a former U.S. commerce secretary with extensive overseas experience. The mayor said part of the pitch will emphasize Chicago's history as a city of immigrants.

Said Ryan -- speaking to reporters Friday at the Hilton Washington Embassy Row, where the Chicago and L.A. teams practiced their presentations through the day:"We're not cocky -- we're confident we have a great, great bid.''

"We're going to make a strong presentation, and L.A. is going to make a strong presentation,'' said the mayor, who counts Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as a friend.

The two embraced in the hotel lobby, and Villaraigosa joked that it was difficult to compete with a mayor like Daley who captured about 70 percent of the vote in winning re-election this year.

The Chicago team of the two Daleys, Ryan, former CTA Chairwoman Valerie Jarrett, Olympic gold medal-winning triple jumper Michael Conley and Paralympic wheelchair champion Linda Mastandrea will be allowed 40 minutes to present their argument, followed by perhaps 20 minutes of questions from the USOC board.

Chicago is touting a compact Games with venues that are close together, including a $1.1 billion privately funded proposed housing complex near McCormick Place and a $366 million temporary stadium in Washington Park.

L.A.'s team is selling a Games where most of the venues are already built and offering Hollywood know-how to expand the appeal to the Olympics, which have lost some cachet among younger people.

Villaraigosa acknowledges some "apprehension'' but said his team is "quite confident.''

Both cities are promising no local tax dollars would be used to stage the Games, though both have approved use of taxpayer funds should Games revenues fall short.

Villaraigosa said his team would announce more insurance this weekend but declined to elaborate.

Daley was asked if this was the most important pitch he has made during his 18 years as mayor. "This is really quite different an experience than I've ever had,'' he replied.

The bid presentation "can't just be a lot of pictures and a lot of words. You really have to believe in what you're doing. It has to come from the soul,'' Daley said.

If Chicago wins today, it will compete internationally against a lineup that could include Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Madrid, Spain, and Tokyo.

"We're not cocky -- we're confident we have a great, great bid.