International Olympic Committee (IOC) members received finance and security assurances for New York’s 2012 Olympic bid on Wednesday, as well as a videotaped pledge of support from United States President George Bush.
A 13-person IOC evaluation committee heard Bush vow full backing for the $3,6-billion bid in the third day of private meetings, boosting deputy mayor and bid founder Dan Doctoroff’s hopes of beating four rivals for the Games.
”What he said was a very strong statement of support,” Doctoroff said. ”He demonstrated great passion for the Olympic movement, an appreciation for the power of the Olympic movement. That can’t help but instil confidence.”
Roland Betts, a wealthy college friend of Bush who stands to make a fortune on the Games, was the president’s representative in the IOC talks and would be a direct link to the White House on a New York Games organising committee.
”Hearing the level of the commitment from the president and one of his closest friends can’t help but reassure them we will be able to deliver upon our promises,” Doctoroff said.
Betts would directly benefit from a New York Games because he owns the Chelsea Piers property adjacent to a planned 70 000-seat Olympic Stadium, although the land is not yet obtained for that $1,4-billion project.
The IOC panel makes its only public comments in New York on Thursday before departing. It will prepare a report on finalists New York, Madrid, Paris, Moscow and London in advance of the IOC’s July 6 vote at a meeting in Singapore.
Betts downplayed the notion that global anti-American feelings over the invasion of Iraq will hurt New York’s Olympic bid.
”The president’s video was very warm, impressive and very well received,” said Betts, who noted: ”The president is getting more popular in Europe by the hour.”
A detailed $3-billion budget for staging the Games, featuring $2,8-billion in expenses and a $492-million fund for cost overruns, was presented to the IOC panel.
”We wanted to be able to convince the IOC we could deliver this budget,” bid chief financial officer Steve Reynolds said. ”They like to see conservative revenues. The IOC has no question we could deliver this budget.”
Figures do not include security budget guarantees, Betts said.
”The federal guarantee is not tied to a number. It’s whatever is necessary to make sure the Games are safe for the athletes and the crowds,” Betts said. ”That will be a significant number.”
Betts, a former US Olympic Committee board of directors member, expected similar open-ended budgets for security in other bids in the wake of possible terrorist threats.
”There have been terrorist attacks in all the bid cities,” Betts said. ”I think you have a level playing field there. We all have risks.”
IOC members also received a detailed budget breakdown, a marketing pitch by National Basketball Association commissioner David Stern, medical and legal presentations plus a jazz concert and dinner with mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Stern emphasised special corporate and promotional support opportunities unique to New York, ones that could boost lesser Olympic sports.
”We made it clear all of those resources would be available to all of the federations,” Stern said. ”There would be significant marketing plans in place to begin growing their sports once the Games were in place.”
Bloomberg also stressed promises by city unions of no strikes during the Games, a significant vow given Paris unions’ plan to strike during the IOC panel’s visit there next month.
”I think they were pleasantly surprised by the cooperation from all levels,” Pataki said.
Reynolds revealed some details of the budget, including $1,2-billion in sponsorship funding, projecting a 25% jump over the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games figures.
”This is a big number but we believe this number is conservative,” Reynolds said. ”Games in the US have historically had record sponsorship numbers.”
Attendance projections are 9,4-million tickets sold from 12-million available, an 81% sell-out rate, for $852-million in revenue.
Nearly three million tickets will be priced at $25 or less, with more than 60% at $50 or less and 87% at $100 or less.
The $2,8-billion in expenses will include a $200-million contingency fund, a $42-million buffer for construction projects and an added $250-million guarantee from city and state governments. — Sapa-AFP