Chicago 2016 Summer Olympic Games May Reuse London 2012 Stadium

 Beijing London Chicago Association  (Chicago, IL): According to officials with, both, Chicago 2016 and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) for the London 2012 Olympic Games, the two organizations have discussed the possibility, however remote, of selling part of the London 2012 Olympic stadium, including 55,000 seats, to Chicago 2016. The prerequisite, presumptively, is Chicago winning the privilege of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

The fact that, as Chicago 2016 spokesman Patrick Sandusky stated, the London 2012 Olympic organizers "... proposed a similar type stadium ..." to the one Chicago 2016 hopes to build in Washington Park, and "... have a similar concept in terms of re-purposing the stadium ...", is what, presumptively, makes reuse of London 2012 Olympic stadium parts in Chicago a subject worthy of discussion, at all.

Chicago 2016's planned stadium and the London 2012 Olympic Games stadium, for which construction work began three months ahead of schedule, on May 22, 2008, are intended to be partially temporary, or collapsible. A temporary 80,000 seat Olympic stadium is called for in, both, the London 2012 Olympic Games stadium and the proposed Chicago 2016 Olympic stadium plans.

An important difference, however, is the planned Chicago 2016 Olympic stadium is to become a stadium of only 5,000 permanent seats, after the hoped for Chicago 2016 Summer Olympic Games, while the London 2012 Olympic stadium is to have 25,000 permanent seats, after London's 2012 Olympic Games.

Despite any similarities between the two Olympic stadium designs, officials with, both, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Chicago 2016, have made it clear that London Olympic stadium reuse discussions between the two organizations are, according to Doug Arnot, Chicago 2016's Director Of Sport And Operations, only in "very, very, preliminary stages ..."

"We are at such an early stage of discussion trying to sort this out that we don't know ..." if this will save us money. "... If you take parts and ... move them on, there might be some savings, but ... you have to ship those parts"; so, "it's way too soon to tell."

Officials with London's Olympic Delivery Authority have, similarly, characterized the 2012 Olympic stadium reuse discussions with Chicago 2016 as being "preliminary". They have also indicated they are open to having London 2012 Olympic stadium reuse discussions with organizers in other cities competing for the privilege of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

This news story is: Chicago 2016 May Reuse London 2012 Stadium ETREV