City to hold Olympic extravaganza
Chicago 2016 spent $9.2 million to complete the first leg of Mayor Daley’s Olympic journey. It’ll cost $49.3 million to compete on the international stage -- and make it to the finish line.
On July 14, Round Two kicks into high gear with a Millennium Park extravaganza that will be equal parts fund-raiser and celebration.
(AP)
The event known as “Chicago Believes …” will include a 4:30 p.m. demonstration by Olympic athletes, a 6 p.m. dinner serving international foods prepared by some of the world’s top chefs and a variety show starring local performers.
They include: the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Hubbard Street Dance; Bandoleros; the Anti-Gravity Boots Team; acclaimed tenor Rodrick Dixon and a local gospel choir.
The dinner is expected to draw roughly 2,000 guests willing to pay $500-a-ticket. Seats for the Pritzker Pavilion variety show will be available for $100. But, there’s also room for 7,000 people on the Great Lawn at no cost.
On Wednesday, Chicago 2016 released a list of 94 movers-and-shakers who have ponied up the $100,000 -- or $1 million in-kind contribution -- needed to become co-chairs of “Chicago Believes.” It’s a who’s-who of Chicago’s business, civic and philanthropic elite.
That would appear to mean that $9.4 million has already been raised for the Millennium Park event. But, Chicago 2016 spokesman Patrick Sandusky refused to provide a precise figure or fund-raising goal for the event co-chaired by Daley and Chicago 2016 Chairman Pat Ryan.
“The important thing for us is that it’s both a fund-raiser and a celebration -- and there are 7,000 free seats available. We want the broadest number of Chicagoans possible to come out and celebrate and participate in the Olympic bid,” Sandusky said.
“They can come and see the show. They could potentially volunteer. They could donate to the bid. Or they could just show their support by their presence.”
Last month, Chicago 2016 released a tax form for the year ending June 30, 2007 that provided a sneak peak at its Round One spending.
It showed the city’s bid committee raised $32.7 million, spent $9.2 million on the domestic campaign and had $22.4 million leftover. That’s a running start on the $49.3 million Chicago needs to compete on the international stage against Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro.