Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Stanford a possible venue for San Francisco's 2016 Olympics bid
By Therin Jones
The Stanford Daily (Stanford)
08/10/2006

(U-WIRE) STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford may soon be not only the home of Olympic athletes, but the host of the Olympics itself, if San Francisco's bid for the 2016 Olympics continues.

The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) narrowed its possible host-city nominees for the 2016 Olympics to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago, July 26. The other two cities to have submitted bids, Houston and Philadelphia, were eliminated.

While the USOC selection process is far from transparent, the group's vice president disclosed that Chicago and San Francisco offered elaborate waterfront plans. Los Angeles has the advantage of completed facilities (the city hosted the games in 1932 and 1984).

Mayor Gavin Newsom boasted San Francisco's "international appeal" in a released statement. Although full plans have not been disclosed, Stanford venues are expected to be named for San Francisco's facilities use, such as the Avery Aquatics Center.

The USOC will not decide whether or not to submit a bid until autumn, and a U.S. nominee would not be announced until the end of March. A final decision on the 2016 Olympic city will be made in October 2009.

Other cities expressing interest in hosting the 2016 Olympics include Rome, Milan, Madrid, Hamburg, Tokyo and Fukuoka.

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