Background[]
Olympics City in 2016 is possible[]
Media[]
500px|left|Rio got the Olympics and Chicago didn't.
- IOC officials tour possible Chicago Olympic venues - 04/05/09 - Members of the International Olympic Committee have visited the site of the proposed Olympic Stadium in Washington Park on Chicago's South Side.
- SI.com - Writers - Maggie Haskins: Give Chicago the 2016 Olympics - July 14, 2005, Get wind of this. My proposal for Chicago to host the 2016 Olympics
- Chicago's bid for Olympics faces key hurdles - 03/24/09 - More so than any of the three other bid cities, Chicago's quest for the 2016 Olympics has some potential minefields to traverse.
Chicago hosted Gay Games Gay Games VII in 2006[]
Cyndi Lauper was the headliner at closing in Wrigley Field. Mayor Richard M. Daley helped Chicago say goodbye. Daley, who has been vocal about his desire for Chicago to host the 2016 Olympic Games, escorted the Gay Games flag during its ceremonial transfer to an official from Cologne, Germany, the host city of the 2010 games.
- "As mayor, I want you to know how much we enjoyed having you here this past week," said Daley, who also spoke at the Gay Games' opening ceremony a week earlier at Soldier Field. "I'm sure you found Chicago is a very welcoming place for members of the gay and lesbian community."
The games, held every four years, started in 1982 in San Francisco with events open to gay and straight participants, regardless of physical ability. A competing event called the Outgames will begin July 29 in Montreal. The Outgames resulted from a dispute between the Federation of Gay Games and organizers in Montreal, where the Gay Games originally were slated to be held.
Events included traditional sports like tennis, soccer, track and power lifting. Same-sex pairs figure skating and ballroom dancing drew crowds of cheering spectators.