Tuesday, 16 June 2009

Protestors 'Storm Into' IOC Headquarters to Oppose Chicago 2016

It was less of a brutal break-in than a prudent protest, but a group of demonstrators still caused a stir on the peaceful banks of Lake Geneva as they made their way into the IOC headquarters uninvited.

'No Games Chicago' are in Switzerland to oppose Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics and the interference broke out on the eve of an important pitch to IOC members.

The group leader Tom Tresser says he hopes to hold a press conference at the Olympic Museum at 12.15 CET tomorrow to further air his grievances.

He demanded to speak to IOC staff this evening and was eventually ushered into a room by Mark Adams, the IOC's new director of communications.

The organisation is upset at the lack of local government transparency over the bid in the context of Chicago's alleged debts and the risk of Olympic cost overruns.

It said: 'No Games Chicago believes that the time, money and energy placed into bidding and hosting the Olympics would be better spent on services and infrastructure that can improve the lives of the average Chicagoans.'

Asked whether he opposed the Olympic Games in general, Tresser told this blog: 'We're not here to talk about other cities, we're just here to say what we know is good for Chicago.'

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