antiquity
04-08-2002, 10:26 PM
Houston Official: 'We put man on the moon ... we WILL have a great Olympic Games'
Houston 2012 Foundation Submits Bid Supplement Upgrading Plans
For 2012 Olympic Games
HOUSTON, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston, the city that put man on the moon, today delivered its revised 2012 Olympic games bid proposal to the United States Olympic Committee today, emphasizing the centrality of the Paralympic Games and the strength of its existing venues.
The city's proposal, a comprehensive review of Houston's budget and plans should they be chosen the Host City for 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, was formed with practical insights from former and current Olympians and Paralympians, coaches, and officials. Houston's substantial experience in hosting major events and first-hand observations of the Atlanta, Sydney and Salt Lake City Olympic Games by the bid's leadership also figured prominently in designing the realistic-and historic-plan.
"Texas knows how to make dreams a reality: the world turned to us when it came time to put man on the moon. Houston now has the plan and the people to host the most dynamic and inclusive Olympic and Paralympic Games the world has ever seen," said Susan Bandy, President of the Houston 2012 Foundation.
Houston's supplements is highlighted by:
-- Houston's Financial Strength. Houston's conservative financial
proposal was developed to allow for a successful Games no matter the
state of the world's economy in 2012. Houston's budget conservatively
projected revenue from broadcast, sponsorship and ticket sales based
on historical trends, while planned operating costs have been
increased in anticipation of unforeseen needs. In the final analysis,
the revenues will not only cover the cost of the Games, but will
result in a US$219 million surplus. This makes the US$100 million the
state of Texas approved in 1999 virtually unnecessary and allows for
over US$219 million in investment in US and international sport.
Houston's budget is so low because the city has already invested
US$1.3 million to build a state-of-the-art sporting venue network. As
a result, the estimated capital expenditures for the 2012 Games-US$165
million-are significantly less than other US bid cities.
-- Paralympic Plans. Houston pledges an unrivaled experience for
Paralympians in 2012, thanks to the planning of the Houston 2012
Foundation Paralympic Committee. Houston has also benefited from the
expertise and insights of top disabled athletes serving on the
Foundation's board. They include, the greatest wheelchair athlete in
the world, Randy Snow; Vice Chairman of Wheelchair USA's Athlete
Advisory Committee, Deanna Vanhook; and two-time Paralympian fencer
Mario Rodriguez. Houston has a long and successful tradition of
hosting events for athletes with disabilities including the 1987
Wheelchair Games, numerous domestic and international wheelchair
basketball events, and the Quad Rugby US tryouts for the 2000 USA
Team, among other events. The Paralympians will use the same athletes'
village and competition venues as the Olympic athletes. Many of the
events, including the Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, will
take place at Houston's Paralympic Park, providing a festive
"Sydney-type" experience for the Paralympians and spectators alike.
Creative ticket procedures will increase attendance and promote the
Paralympic Games to new fans (the Houston organizing committee will
create day-pass tickets to allow individuals to pay one small
admission fee to attend all events at the Paralympic Park). In
addition, Paralympic transportation costs are minimized because all of
the buses in Houston's mass transit system are already equipped for
wheelchair access.
-- Celebration City. Houston's strong financial plan will allow a unique
investment in the celebratory component of the Olympic experience:
"Celebration Corridor." Made up of the three celebration pods and
linked by Houston's light rail line, the Corridor will create venues
for Olympic-focused programming, celebrations, viewing of the
televised-events, concerts and cultural events. The Downtown pod will
be located in the recently revitalized Theatre District and will allow
for public viewing stations, pin trading and concerts. The second
celebration pod will bring cultural festivals to Houston's Museum
district where the city's renowned zoo and world famous museums are
located. The third will be in the main Olympic Park. Admission to
these celebration cells will be free of charge and each will be fully
secure.
-- Venue Plan. One of the Houston bid's key strengths is its
near-complete sporting venue network. This system is state-of-the-art
and built in compact pods to ensure easier transportation and
unmatched security arrangements for the Games. Houston has spent
US$1.3 billion on its athletic and convention facilities since 1997
ensuring that nearly all the required facilities will be ready for
competition, not by 2012 but by 2005, the year of the International
Olympic Committee's decision on the 2012 Host City allowing for
extensive testing-both theoretical and practical. Because of these
state-of-the-art facilities, a majority of events will be held in
climate-controlled, air-conditioned venues.
Like Sydney, Houston has proposed a true Olympic Park. A hub of
Olympic events, celebration and activity. The Park, built around the
Reliant Astrodome and Reliant Stadium will house 18 sport/site
combinations as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the
Olympic store, sponsor displays, food court and viewing stations. It
also includes the world famous amusement park Six Flags Astroworld,
only adding to the festive environment of the Games.
-- Security. Houston has performed extensive risk assessments and sent a
team of police and security officials to Salt Lake City to observe and
be briefed by the security team at the Olympic Games. The City of
Houston developed and led an unprecedented security pact with the
other bid cities that will allow for shared resources for the ultimate
US host city.
Houston's compact venue structure reflects security concerns as much
as convenience, and the bid incorporates "best practices" yielded by
having hosted many large sporting events, from the Super Bowl to the
NCAA Final Four to the world's largest rodeo, as well as high-security
meetings like the Republican National Convention and the G-7 summit.
Houston is working closely with federal and state agencies on security
arrangements for the 2004 Super Bowl and 2004 Major League Baseball
All-Star Game.
-- Olympic Family. Houston is committed above all to the Olympic Family
-- the athletes, the coaches, the officials, the family's of athletes,
the media and others that ensure the Olympic Games occur. In addition
to natural Texas charm and hospitality, the city has instituted
several programs to ensure the experience and successful performance
of these individuals at the 2012 Games, including generous ticket
policies for families of athletes, paid travel for Olympians,
Paralympians and team officials, and a state-of-the-art and
conveniently located media center, among other programs.
"Our revised proposal demonstrates how committed we are to bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Houston," said Bandy. "Like everything in Texas, we will do it big, we will do it right and we will do it successfully."
Contact: John Gans: 212-445-8336
646-425-8099
Houston 2012 Foundation Submits Bid Supplement Upgrading Plans
For 2012 Olympic Games
HOUSTON, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston, the city that put man on the moon, today delivered its revised 2012 Olympic games bid proposal to the United States Olympic Committee today, emphasizing the centrality of the Paralympic Games and the strength of its existing venues.
The city's proposal, a comprehensive review of Houston's budget and plans should they be chosen the Host City for 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, was formed with practical insights from former and current Olympians and Paralympians, coaches, and officials. Houston's substantial experience in hosting major events and first-hand observations of the Atlanta, Sydney and Salt Lake City Olympic Games by the bid's leadership also figured prominently in designing the realistic-and historic-plan.
"Texas knows how to make dreams a reality: the world turned to us when it came time to put man on the moon. Houston now has the plan and the people to host the most dynamic and inclusive Olympic and Paralympic Games the world has ever seen," said Susan Bandy, President of the Houston 2012 Foundation.
Houston's supplements is highlighted by:
-- Houston's Financial Strength. Houston's conservative financial
proposal was developed to allow for a successful Games no matter the
state of the world's economy in 2012. Houston's budget conservatively
projected revenue from broadcast, sponsorship and ticket sales based
on historical trends, while planned operating costs have been
increased in anticipation of unforeseen needs. In the final analysis,
the revenues will not only cover the cost of the Games, but will
result in a US$219 million surplus. This makes the US$100 million the
state of Texas approved in 1999 virtually unnecessary and allows for
over US$219 million in investment in US and international sport.
Houston's budget is so low because the city has already invested
US$1.3 million to build a state-of-the-art sporting venue network. As
a result, the estimated capital expenditures for the 2012 Games-US$165
million-are significantly less than other US bid cities.
-- Paralympic Plans. Houston pledges an unrivaled experience for
Paralympians in 2012, thanks to the planning of the Houston 2012
Foundation Paralympic Committee. Houston has also benefited from the
expertise and insights of top disabled athletes serving on the
Foundation's board. They include, the greatest wheelchair athlete in
the world, Randy Snow; Vice Chairman of Wheelchair USA's Athlete
Advisory Committee, Deanna Vanhook; and two-time Paralympian fencer
Mario Rodriguez. Houston has a long and successful tradition of
hosting events for athletes with disabilities including the 1987
Wheelchair Games, numerous domestic and international wheelchair
basketball events, and the Quad Rugby US tryouts for the 2000 USA
Team, among other events. The Paralympians will use the same athletes'
village and competition venues as the Olympic athletes. Many of the
events, including the Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, will
take place at Houston's Paralympic Park, providing a festive
"Sydney-type" experience for the Paralympians and spectators alike.
Creative ticket procedures will increase attendance and promote the
Paralympic Games to new fans (the Houston organizing committee will
create day-pass tickets to allow individuals to pay one small
admission fee to attend all events at the Paralympic Park). In
addition, Paralympic transportation costs are minimized because all of
the buses in Houston's mass transit system are already equipped for
wheelchair access.
-- Celebration City. Houston's strong financial plan will allow a unique
investment in the celebratory component of the Olympic experience:
"Celebration Corridor." Made up of the three celebration pods and
linked by Houston's light rail line, the Corridor will create venues
for Olympic-focused programming, celebrations, viewing of the
televised-events, concerts and cultural events. The Downtown pod will
be located in the recently revitalized Theatre District and will allow
for public viewing stations, pin trading and concerts. The second
celebration pod will bring cultural festivals to Houston's Museum
district where the city's renowned zoo and world famous museums are
located. The third will be in the main Olympic Park. Admission to
these celebration cells will be free of charge and each will be fully
secure.
-- Venue Plan. One of the Houston bid's key strengths is its
near-complete sporting venue network. This system is state-of-the-art
and built in compact pods to ensure easier transportation and
unmatched security arrangements for the Games. Houston has spent
US$1.3 billion on its athletic and convention facilities since 1997
ensuring that nearly all the required facilities will be ready for
competition, not by 2012 but by 2005, the year of the International
Olympic Committee's decision on the 2012 Host City allowing for
extensive testing-both theoretical and practical. Because of these
state-of-the-art facilities, a majority of events will be held in
climate-controlled, air-conditioned venues.
Like Sydney, Houston has proposed a true Olympic Park. A hub of
Olympic events, celebration and activity. The Park, built around the
Reliant Astrodome and Reliant Stadium will house 18 sport/site
combinations as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the
Olympic store, sponsor displays, food court and viewing stations. It
also includes the world famous amusement park Six Flags Astroworld,
only adding to the festive environment of the Games.
-- Security. Houston has performed extensive risk assessments and sent a
team of police and security officials to Salt Lake City to observe and
be briefed by the security team at the Olympic Games. The City of
Houston developed and led an unprecedented security pact with the
other bid cities that will allow for shared resources for the ultimate
US host city.
Houston's compact venue structure reflects security concerns as much
as convenience, and the bid incorporates "best practices" yielded by
having hosted many large sporting events, from the Super Bowl to the
NCAA Final Four to the world's largest rodeo, as well as high-security
meetings like the Republican National Convention and the G-7 summit.
Houston is working closely with federal and state agencies on security
arrangements for the 2004 Super Bowl and 2004 Major League Baseball
All-Star Game.
-- Olympic Family. Houston is committed above all to the Olympic Family
-- the athletes, the coaches, the officials, the family's of athletes,
the media and others that ensure the Olympic Games occur. In addition
to natural Texas charm and hospitality, the city has instituted
several programs to ensure the experience and successful performance
of these individuals at the 2012 Games, including generous ticket
policies for families of athletes, paid travel for Olympians,
Paralympians and team officials, and a state-of-the-art and
conveniently located media center, among other programs.
"Our revised proposal demonstrates how committed we are to bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Houston," said Bandy. "Like everything in Texas, we will do it big, we will do it right and we will do it successfully."
Contact: John Gans: 212-445-8336
646-425-8099