At the MPC 2007 Annual Meeting Luncheon, keynote speaker the Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell, minister for the Olympics and London, inspired Chicagoans to think big and remain positive while planning for the 2016 Games
To craft a winning bid for the
2016 Olympics, Chicago leaders must ensure Olympics planning is inclusive,
transparent, and, most importantly, improves this region for generations to
come, according to Tessa Jowell, the United Kingdom’s Minister for the Olympics
and London, who delivered the keynote address at the MPC 2007 Annual Meeting
Luncheon, “Going for the Gold: Chicago’s Olympic Destiny.”
“Be very clear about what you
want to do afterwards,” Jowell advised the crowd of Chicago-area civic,
business, community and governmental leaders who attended the luncheon on Nov.
29. “Keep thinking about what will happen beyond 17 days of sports.”
The International Olympic
Committee is looking for such “big picture” planning, Jowell added, as well as a
city it can trust.
Indeed, as Chicago competes with six other global
cities
–
including Madrid,
Rio
de Janeiro,
and
Tokyo – for the honor
of hosting the 2016 Olympics, MPC continues to urge that planning for the Games
be tied to broader goals to maintain and build
upon
Chicago’s world-class status.
“Tessa Jowell’s remarks serve
as an excellent reminder that as we compete for the 2016 Olympic Games, we can
build upon the successes of experienced host cities,” said MarySue Barrett,
president of MPC. “Our plans not only should capture the imagination of the
International Olympic Committee and world, but also make our region more
competitive in the global economy.”
Jowell’s insights about the wider
benefits of hosting the Olympics were an inspiring message for the crowd of
decision-makers gathered for MPC’s major annual fundraising event.
“For
London, hosting the Olympic and Paralympic
Games is about much more than even a great summer of sport. It offers a unique
opportunity to change our capital city for the better, leaving a legacy of
transformation and hope for decades to come,” said
Jowell.
In
London
, the city is redeveloping the
East End
neighborhood, a very low-income community where
life expectancy is a full four years below the national rate. The city engaged
community members from the outset, which is critical in all stages of Olympics
planning, said Jowell.
Jowell also urged
Chicago
bid officials to
be “transparent and explicit as possible” about the various costs of hosting the
Games. Although reports have claimed that
London
is over budget, a closer look reveals those numbers include “legacy” projects,
such as the
East End
redevelopment. Such
improvements will benefit the city long after the Games, said Jowell, and part
of building support for the Games is calling attention to how the Games can
accelerate needed investments and bring to light new opportunities for a host
city.
“Our door is open and our knowledge and
experience available to all the cities bidding to receive the Olympic and
Paralympic baton from us in 2012 – and beyond,” Jowell
added.
The MPC 2007 Annual Meeting
Luncheon was made possible by Presenting Event Chair Joseph A. Gregoire,
president and CEO, Illinois Banking, National City Bank, which contributed
$50,000 to MPC for the luncheon; and Event Co-Chairs Gail K. Boudreaux,
executive vice president of external operations, BlueCross BlueShield of
Illinois; Colin Dyer, president and CEO, Jones Lang LaSalle, and Peter Roberts,
chief executive officer of the Americas, Jones Lang LaSalle; Miles D. White,
chairman and CEO, Abbott; and Thomas Wilson, president and CEO, the Allstate
Corporation. Their companies each contributed $25,000 to sponsor the event. The
Honorary Co-Chairs for the 2007 luncheon were Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley;
James Clark, Her Majesty’s Consul General,
Chicago
; and Patrick G. Ryan, executive
chairman, Aon Corporation.
