AP News, March 3rd, 2007
The bus ferrying U.S. Olympic Committee evaluators slowed to a crawl Friday as it merged onto the freeway headed for Long Beach during a tour of venues for Los Angeles' bid to land the 2016 Summer Olympics.
It was the only slowdown the 11-member Evaluation Commission experienced while wrapping up a two-day stay with visits to existing venues in Carson, Long Beach and Los Angeles.
The northbound morning commute was heavy, but separate buses carrying commission members and the media moved easily southbound.
"We have no doubts Los Angeles has the capability to host the next Olympic Games," said Jim Scherr, USOC chief executive officer.
The commission visited Home Depot Center in Carson, proposed site of archery, cycling, soccer and tennis. Former U.S. national team stars Mia Hamm and Alexi Lalas greeted them overlooking the soccer field.
"The opportunity to host the Olympics would be wonderful and we could do it today," Lalas told reporters. "They're not going to see anything like this in other cities. It's what we like to call the cathedral of soccer."
Accompanied by six former Olympians, including swimmer Janet Evans, the commission then traveled 18 miles to Long Beach for a walkthrough of the city's convention center complex (site of rhythmic gymnastics, judo, taekwondo, table tennis and wrestling).
They drove by the parking lot where a temporary aquatics center would spring up, saw the sandy patch planned for beach volleyball, and glimpsed at the shoreline marina to be used for sailing.
"It's very impressive," said Bob Ctvrtlik, IOC member and Evaluation Commission chairman. "You can walk in them, touch them and see exactly how they will perform. Is that something that will push them over the top? We'll have to see."
By comparison, Chicago would need to build most of its venues. The Midwestern city is competing with Los Angeles to be the U.S. candidate to the International Olympic Committee.
"Potentially, there could be more risk," Ctvrtlik said about Chicago's lack of existing venues. "At this point, we were impressed by the venues we saw and the plan that has been laid out in Los Angeles."
The commission will visit Chicago on Monday and Tuesday. The USOC will announce its candidate city on April 14, with the IOC choosing the 2016 host in 2009.
Los Angeles is seeking to host its third Summer Olympics, having done so in 1932 and 1984. Some critics suggest there might be Los Angeles fatigue among IOC members.
"It does come up," Ctvrtlik said. "It's a factor, but it's a factor that would just have to be overcome if L.A. was to go forward."
The commission boarded a light rail train in Long Beach for a 53-minute ride (no stops) that dropped members off a few blocks from the Los Angeles Convention Center, which would house press and broadcast operations.
The group walked next door to Staples Center, the proposed gymnastics venue, and looked out at the under-construction L.A. Live project that will add restaurants, clubs, a theater and high-end hotels to that mostly sleepy section of downtown.
Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group which operates Staples, stressed his company's established relationships with commission members. AEG backed London's successful bid for the 2012 Summer Games.
"I don't think anyone has better relationships with the international community than Los Angeles," Leiweke said. "We've been there, done it."
After visiting Chicago, commission members will submit follow-up questions to both cities' organizing committees, with a March 8 deadline to answer.
The USOC will conduct polling in both cities to gauge public opinion on the bids in the next month.
