Chicago's bid for 2016 Games has potential hurdles

DENVER -- More so than any of the three other bid cities, Chicago's quest for the 2016 Summer Games has some potential minefields to traverse.

Chicago organizers hope two big potential problems are put to rest this week: the squabble over the U.S. Olympic Committee's share of Olympic revenue and negative perceptions of the recent upheaval in USOC leadership.

The USOC's new CEO is using this week's SportAccord gathering in Denver to meet and greet the movers and shakers of the international sports community, and the money issue is a major topic at the conference, where the International Olympic Committee executive board meetings also are taking place.

More than 1,500 delegates are attending the conference, which will feature key public presentations Thursday by the four candidates for the 2016 Olympics -- Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

The IOC will select the host city by secret ballot Oct. 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

U.S. companies provide the lion's share of the Olympic movement's money through TV and advertising revenue, and the coffers could very well go higher if Chicago wins.

Chicago's Olympic committee also is hoping President Barack Obama's worldwide popularity will help. Obama has been invited to attend the October meeting.

Chicago's biggest obstacle to a winning bid might be the squabble between the USOC and IOC on revenue sharing. Some IOC members want to renegotiate the terms, which they say are overly favorable to the USOC. There's a notion that the issue could negatively impact the Chicago bid if it isn't resolved in the IOC's favor.

"I don't think they're connected, but does that mean that certain individuals wouldn't connect them? I couldn't say that's the case," said Pat Ryan, chairman of the Chicago 2016 bid.

If the issue drags on, it could end up putting a crimp in Chicago's chances.