USA Weightlifting Athletes Support Chicago 2016 with Demonstration at Federal Plaza

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Four members of the Windy City WLC conducted a weightlifting demonstration at Federal Plaza in Chicago on Sept. 23 to support Chicago’s bid to play host to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Athletes Shane Maier (Northbrook, Ill.), Cody Maples (Barrington, Ill.), Michael Johnson (Downers Grove, Ill.) and Rainie Johnson (Downers Grove, Ill.) demonstrated lifts on the Plaza to expose Chicagoans to the sport of weightlifting. 

"Windy City Weightlifting Club was really proud to have the opportunity to participate in this event and be a part of this great effort!  It's not every day that we get to lift weights in the middle of lunch hour in front of a landmark sculpture," said Mike Gattone (Libertyville, Ill.), USA Weightlifting Director of High Performance and Coaching Education.  "Many folks stopped and asked questions and were very appreciative of the athleticism, and technique of the athletes!"

On Friday, the International Olympic Committee will convene in Copenhagen, Denmark to select the city that will play host to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  The IOC will choose among Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Madrid

“Chicago 2016 and World Sport Chicago have worked very hard to put together an excellent bid that benefit athletes from all nations,” said USA Weightlifting CEO Rick Adams (Colorado Springs, Colo.)  “The city of Chicago has time and time again demonstrated that it can put on the world’s best sporting events in front of an enthusiastic and diverse crowd.  In July, World Sport Chicago hosted Team USA and 21other delegations at the Pan American Championships where athletes competed in a first-class event and we at USA Weightlifting not only support the Games coming to Chicago, but look forward to helping embrace the arrival of the world to the United States.”

Twenty-six Olympic and Paralympic athletes will be joined in Copenhagen by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to support Chicago’s bid this week.

Fans can still show their support for Chicago ’s bid by registering as a supporter on the Chicago 2016 Web site (http://www.chicago2016.org/support-the-bid.aspx).  

A variety of activities are planned to follow the final IOC selection process on Oct. 2, including options for fans who live in and outside of the Chicago area.

Chicagoans can go to Daley Plaza to watch the announcement and other activities live on Oct. 2, beginning at 9 a.m. CDT.

Supporters of Chicago 2016 also can follow the action live on both television and the Internet.

Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com will air and live-stream NBC5 News Chicago’s coverage of the announcement of the winning bid city for the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. EDT.  

“As part of our mission of airing Olympic sports and events that are impactful within the Olympic framework, the IOC announcement awarding the 2016 Summer Games to one of these great international cities is very deserving of our attention,” said Claude Ruibal, CEO of Universal Sports.  “We’re extremely pleased to be able to offer this coverage to our millions of viewers around the U.S. and online, and to work closely with our NBC5 Chicago partners to make this happen.”

UniversalSports.com will be streaming video from 2:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT, and will show each of the four finalist cities’ LIVE presentations at the following times (all times Eastern):

2:45 – 3:55 a.m.    Chicago Final Bid Presentation
4:25 – 5:45 a.m.    Tokyo Final Bid Presentation
6:05 – 7:25 a.m.    Rio de Janeiro Final Bid Presentation
8:45 – 9:55 a.m.    Madrid Final Bid Presentation
12:30 – 1 p.m.      Announcement of Host City for 2016 Olympic Games

To learn more about Chicago ’s plans and recent news about 2016, go to www.chicago2016.org.