SCCOG Delegation Set For Final Presentation to USOC and Decision on LA 2016 Bid

Mayor, Bid Leadership Travel to Washington D.C. as Final Step in US Bid Process

Mayor Villaraigosa and SCCOG Chairman Barry Sanders will lead the delegation, which also includes Tim Leiweke and Casey Wasserman, Vice Chairs; David Simon, President; Rhonda Brauer, Vice President; Peter Vidmar, Vice President and Olympian; David McGowan, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; Willie Banks, Olympian and President of the U.S. Olympians Association; Joe McCarthy, Paralympian; Maidie Oliveau, Member, Court of Arbitration for Sport; Alan Rothenberg, Director. Los Angeles and Chicago, the other finalist, will each make a 40-minute presentation to the Board as part of the meeting.

“Los Angeles 2016 has garnered unprecedented City and State support,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “This, combined with a comprehensive bid that will re-imagine the Games, represents a community that is prepared and enthusiastic to produce and host a successful 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

The U.S. Applicant City will be formally nominated by the USOC to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a host for the 2016 Games. The international campaign will last two years, concluding in October 2009 at the IOC Session in Copenhagen, Denmark, when the 2016 Host City is selected.

“I am extremely pleased with the state of our bid as we prepare for the final presentation,” said Sanders. “Governor Schwarzenegger, Mayor Villaraigosa and elected officials throughout the State, business and community leaders and so many others have given their all for the bid. Most importantly the citizens of the region have expressed their desire to bring the Games to Los Angeles in 2016. We’re ready.”

The Los Angeles bid is a comprehensive program that combines existing permanent venues for all but one contested sport. Throughout the LA 2016 campaign, the SCCOG was able to take the focus of the Games from construction to “beyond the venues” measures promoting Olympic spirit and a broadening of the Olympic stage.

The bid process included the introduction of many unique components, including:

• A Harris poll indicating that 89% of Angelenos favor bringing the Olympics to Los Angeles in 2016
• The launch of Ready, Set, Gold!, an in-school fitness curriculum which brings Olympians to LAUSD schools that has been operating since late 2006 and will continue regardless of the USOC selection
• A $110 million enhancement of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
• A Disney produced short-film featuring Governor Schwarzenegger, Mayor Villaraigosa and several Olympians answering the question “Why LA?”
• A Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) produced short-film targeting the 18-34 demographic delivered on multiple platforms
• A commitment by STAPLES Center and The Home Depot Center owners AEG to green light plans for Phase II expansion of The Home Depot Center should Los Angeles be selected to host the Games
• Participation of San Francisco, San Diego and Las Vegas as preliminary-round Olympic Football (Soccer) game host sites
• A conservative estimated economic impact in Los Angeles of $7.2 billion.

“We had many goals when we began this process, with our overriding objective to focus on the Olympic experience and shine the spotlight on the athletes like no other city in the world,” said Sanders. “It is a privilege to present this to the USOC Board.”

About the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games (SCCOG)
Formed in 1939, the SCCOG is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the Olympic movement in Southern California. Since its inception, the SCCOG has bid for the Olympic Games on behalf of and in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles, garnering the award of the Games for 1984. Hailed world-wide for their near-flawless organization, the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles generated an operating surplus of $235 million (in 1984 dollars). Further information about the SCCOG can be found on their website at http://www.sccog.org.