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NYC's Brooklyn Bridge 'Bid Book' send off
Olympians, Paralympians and New Yorkers Gather On Brooklyn Bridge for “Bid Book” Sendoff
By Laz Benitez // NYC2012 // November 11, 2004
Governor George E. Pataki, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, NYC2012 Senior Advisor for Sports and Olympian Donna de Varona (Swimming: 1960, 1964 2 Gold) and Brooklyn-born Athens Gold Medalist Justin Gatlin were joined by thousands of New Yorkers, Olympians and Paralympians at a ceremony on the Brooklyn Bridge to help the City send off New York’s formal submission to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The filing of this 600-page Candidature File, the “Bid Book”, launches the final and most intense stage of the international competition for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Bid Book is due at IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Monday November 15th, and details every aspect of a proposed New York Games in 2012. It addresses the following seventeen Themes as required by the IOC: Legacy, Politics, Legal, Customs, the Environment, Finance, Marketing, Sport, Paralympics, the Olympic Village, Medical, Security, Accommodation, Transport, Technology, Media and Olympism/Culture.
Scores of Olympians and Paralympians, including Gatlin, as well as hundreds of children from New York City’s public schools, participated in a special Bid Book Relay across the Brooklyn Bridge that culminated with handing the Bid Book off to a DHL Courier, for express delivery to the IOC in Lausanne by the deadline of November 15th.
“This spectacular Olympic plan represents the dreams and determination of New Yorkers,” said Governor Pataki. “Together, we will show the world that New York City has what it takes to host the 2012 Olympics Games. New York City offers an unparalleled setting for the Games and is already a proven host of large-scale international events. NYC2012, together with support from the State and City, has worked tirelessly to land New York City on the short list of candidate cities for the Games. I know that a New York City-hosted Olympic Games will be a tremendous experience for athletes and spectators worldwide, and have an enormous and lasting impact for all New Yorkers.”
“New York City’s Olympic Dream, now ten years in the making, has truly been a marathon, and for the next eight months, we’re going to work harder than ever to win the bid for the Olympic Games in 2012,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We’re the ‘World’s Second Home,’ a place with a hometown crowd cheering for every athlete and in every language. Our great bid puts athletes right at the center of the Games with stunning venues and easy access between sites. New Yorkers live the Olympic dream every single day. It takes a lot of talent, a lot of determination and a lot of guts to make it in this town and that’s what the Olympics are all about.”
“We are excited to send off this spectacular Olympic plan to the IOC and share our Olympic dream with the rest of the world,” said Daniel L. Doctoroff, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding and NYC2012 Founder. “We are confident that we have put together a strong and compelling bid. The Olympic values come alive on the streets of New York each day and are reflected in the lives of New Yorkers – the spirit of fair competition and openness where people come from all over the world and live peacefully side-by-side, coming together to pursue their dreams as they test themselves against the best, to be judged solely on talent and determination.”
“An Olympic Games in New York in 2012 would be an event unlike any other. With the support of the Governor, the Mayor and millions of New Yorkers, we look forward with anticipation to the challenge and excitement of the next eight months as we head into the final decision in Singapore,” he continued.
“The Bid Book Sendoff celebration today captured the enthusiasm and excitement that New Yorkers feel about the possibility of the 2012 Games coming to this spectacular city. We congratulate and salute our colleagues and friends at NYC2012 for the outstanding job they have done in preparing the Official Bid Book, and for their efforts to further the Olympic spirit in our country,” said Peter Ueberroth, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United States Olympic Committee.
"Getting the Olympics would be a huge boost for New York economically, developmentally, and spiritually. The most talented people in the world have always come to New York to prove they have what it takes, so it makes perfect sense for the best athletes in the world to come here for the same reason,” Senator Charles E. Schumer said.
"For centuries, New York has served as the gateway for millions of people from all over the world in search of the American dream. It only makes sense that it would now serve as a gateway for the world's greatest athletes. There is no doubt that New York is the perfect city to host the Olympic Games in 2012," Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said.
“New York City is a world class city with breathtaking views and famous bridges that epitomizes the true Olympic spirit — here every day legends are made and dreams come true,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “I am confident that with the submission of this Bid Book, the IOC will see why the Olympic Games would be so welcomed in New York City and Brooklyn — home to everyone from everywhere.”
One of the central elements of New York’s bid is support from an unprecedented number of Olympians and Paralympians from all over the world. NYC2012’s Circle of Olympians and Paralympians has over 1,700 members from all 50 states in the U.S. and 43 countries who support and are actively involved in New York’s bid and have a prominent voice in all aspects of the plan.
“Athlete support has been central to our bid,” said de Varona. “We believe this is the greatest number of Olympian supporters ever for a bid – and it is one of the great strengths of New York’s submission.”
Today’s Brooklyn Bridge ceremony and Bid Book Relay featured athletes and schoolchildren from 60 different countries carrying the Bid Book from City Hall to the center of the Bridge where it was received by the Governor and Mayor and then, after a brief ceremony, carried across the Bridge. Also participating were members of
NYC2012’s Nations of New York, whose 400 member groups of nationality-based organizations represent the City’s numerous international communities and act as ambassadors for the bid. The Nations of New York members include civic, educational, sports, business, social service, and cultural groups spanning the five boroughs.
“New York is truly an Olympic Village every day,” said Doctoroff,” bringing together the peoples of the world in harmony to pursue their individual dreams. In today’s ceremony, athletes and youth from nations around the world demonstrated the diversity of New York and the unique welcome that the teams of every nation will find here in an Olympic Games in 2012.”
New York’s bid is the only fully privately-funded bid of the international Candidate Cities. During the U.S. phase of the competition, NYC2012 raised $15 million from corporations, unions, foundations and individuals. During this international phase, the committee is raising $35 million, $27 million of which has already been committed.
“We’d like to thank the extraordinary generosity of the leaders of the New York community for supporting this bid,” added Doctoroff. “They recognize the historic benefits the Games can bring and its vision for the City’s future.”
The Candidature File consists of 600 pages (in both English and French) in three volumes, responding to the detailed questions in the 17 Themes listed below. An accompanying file includes an additional 1,500 pages of documents and supporting materials.
New York City is competing with four other Candidate Cities for the right to host the 2012 Games: London, Madrid, Moscow and Paris. An IOC Evaluation Commission will visit the cities in Spring 2005 (New York dates: February 21-24) and the Host City will be selected on July 6, 2005 in Singapore.
Olympians and Paralympians participating in the Bid Book Relay and ceremonies were:
Irene Andili (Gymnastics: 2000 B, Greece)
Carlos Arena (Swimming: 1996, Mexico)
Tom Auth (Rowing: 1996, 2000)
Bob Beamon (Athletics: 1968 G)
April Coughlin (Elite Disabled Athlete)
Diane Dixon (Athletics: 1984 G, 1988 S)
Justin Gatlin (2004 G,S,B)
Jennifer Johnson (Table Tennis: 1984 G, 1988 2G, 1996 S, 2000, 2004, Paralympian)
Hara Karyami (Gymnastics: 2000 B, Greece)
Deena Kastor (Athletics: 2000, 2004 B)
Meb Keflezighi(Athletics: 2000, 2004 S)
Par Lindstrom (Swimming: 1992, 1996, Sweden)
Gail Marquis (Basketball: 1976 S)
Deirdre Murphy (Cycling: 2000, Ireland)
Atanda Musa (Table Tennis: 1988, 1992, Nigeria)
Paul Nunnari (Athletics: 1996, 2000 S, 2004, Australia, Paralympian)
Jason Read (Rowing: 2004 G)
Vitaly Scherbo (Gymnastics: 1992 6 G, 1996 4 B, Belarus)
Rose Voisk (Gymnastics: 1948, Yugoslavia)
Miro Vucetic (Swimming: 1996, Croatia)
Lily Yip (Table Tennis: 1992, 1996)
Trischa Zorn (Swimming: 1980 7 G, 1984 10 G, 1988 12 G, 1992 10 G, 2 S
1996 2 G, 3 S, 3 B, 2000 S, B, 2004 B, Paralympian)
A full listing of the 1,700 members of NYC2012’s Circle of Olympians and Paralympians and the 400 members of The Nations of New York are available on NYC2012’s website at www.nyc2012.com.
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