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BASOC Press Release
April 17, 2002
April 17, 2002—BASOC Unveils New Campaign to be U.S. Candidate for 2012 Olympic Games; Bid Offers USOC "the Best Invitation America Can Extend to the World"
San Francisco, CA: Joined by Olympic track superstar Michael Johnson, Bay Area Olympians, Paralympians, young athletes and many supporters, the Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee (BASOC) today laid out the unique vision – and long-term benefits for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), the Bay Area and the International Olympic Movement – of the San Francisco Bay Area's candidacy for the 2012 Olympic Games, unveiling key international strategies and a new theme for the campaign to be U.S. Candidate -- "THE BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE."
"Our bid for the 2012 Olympic Games builds the 'Bridge to the Future' for the United States Olympic Committee, the people of the San Francisco Bay Area and the International Olympic Movement," said Anne Cribbs, President & CEO of BASOC and 1960 Olympian.
"If I could choose one place on earth for the 2012 Olympic Games, I'd choose the San Francisco Bay Area," said Michael Johnson, 2000, 1996 and 1992 Olympian, world-record sprinter and five-time gold medalist. "When it comes to providing the best conditions, the best environment and the best plan for the athletes, San Francisco 2012 laps its competitors. Johnson, who moved to the Bay Area from Texas just last year, was also announced as the newest Olympian member of BASOC's Board of Directors.
With the Golden Gate Bridge and beautiful San Francisco Bay as backdrops, Johnson joined Cribbs, U.S. Paralympic wheelchair basketball champion Larry "Trooper" Johnson and 2002 Olympic medalist Brian Martin to unveil a new, oversized brochure entitled "San Francisco 2012: the Bridge to the Future."
The Bridge to the Future
San Francisco 2012 offers a "Bridge to the Future" for the USOC, the people of the San Francisco Bay Area and the future of the International Olympic Movement by building:
The Bridge to the World's Favorite U.S. City
As the world's favorite U.S. City in survey after survey, with internationally famous icons like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Cable Car, among the world's finest hotels, restaurants and attractions and as one of the most diverse and beautiful cities and regions on earth, San Francisco 2012 offers the USOC a Candidate known and beloved by people around the world.
The Bridge to the Best Conditions for Athletes
With ideal weather, an athlete-centered Olympic Village and venue plan, outstanding, existing athletic facilities and over 400 Olympians currently living in Northern California, San Francisco 2012 offers the USOC the best competitive conditions so that athletes can achieve their greatest potential. With Olympians actively supporting and participating in every aspect of its bid, and as the only U.S. Bid Committee led by an Olympian, San Francisco 2012 is clearly the choice of the athletes and the bridge to a future of greater athletic performance for the world's Olympians.
The Bridge to Sustainability and Environmental Protection for the Olympic Movement.
BASOC's unprecedented commitment to environmental protection, environmental management systems and sustainable development, coupled with the stunning natural beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area, offer the best candidate to leave a true legacy for the third pillar of the Olympic Movement – the Environment – in the international competition.
The Bridge to China and the Future of the Olympic Movement in Asia
As a city, San Francisco's population is fully one-third Asian-American and home to the largest percentage of Chinese-American residents of any city in the nation. Building on the San Francisco Bay Area's historic cultural, sport and business ties to China and Asia, San Francisco 2012 offers a unique bridge to preparations and exchanges before the 2008 Olympic Games in China and to the growth of the Olympic Movement in the vast and dynamic continent of Asia.
The Bridge to Financial Prosperity for the Bay Area and the USOC
With 80% of venues already in place, conservative budget and revenue projections, its reliance on private financing backed by $250 million in private insurance and a last-resort state of California guaranty, San Francisco 2012 offers a financially responsible bid with the greatest prospect to produce a substantial surplus for the people of the Bay Area and the USOC. With a projected surplus of over $400 million, San Francisco 2012 will fund youth sports opportunities, arts and cultural and environmental programs throughout the Bay Area and endow a foundation to support elite amateur American athletes-in-training for each Olympic sport.
The Bridge to Regional Cooperation, Benefits and a Legacy for the People of the Bay Area
Hosting the 2012 Olympic Games will generate over $7 billion for the state economy and leave a legacy of new housing and permanent improvements to the region's transportation systems, athletic facilities, youth sports, environmental and arts programs. The 2012 Olympic Games are the bridge to a future of greater regional cooperation and long-term benefits for the people of the Bay Area.
The Bridge to Communitas -- the True Global Village -- United through Technology
At the heart of the worldwide technology revolution is the idea of Communitas – the Latin word for community – a true global village, united by technologies that bridge language, distance, culture and ideas. Guided by the technological genius and innovation found only in Silicon Valley, San Francisco 2012 is uniquely positioned to deliver the most interactive Olympic Games in history, uniting the world and leaving a true legacy of technology for the future of the Olympic Movement.
"The San Francisco Bay Area and our 'Bridge to the Future' offer the USOC the best invitation America can extend to the world for the 2012 Olympic Games," said John Marks, CEO of the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"The Bridge to the Future" campaign reflects San Francisco's international strategies, a key chapter of the 300 page 'Bid Addendum' recently submitted to the USOC. BASOC leaders also released the full contents of the Bid Addendum, which contained improvements and additional information about the San Francisco Bay Area's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, including:
- A new, compact 'Ring of Gold' venue plan that places 92% of all venues (excluding remote football sites) within 55 kilometers (32 miles) of the centrally-located Olympic Village, with over half within 30 km (18 miles). The new 'Ring of Gold' plan still relies on outstanding, existing facilities but is substantially more compact than Los Angeles' highly successful 1984 game plan. The 'Ring of Gold' is comprised of six highly compact venue clusters that create an Olympic Park environment at each site, with each cluster connected by high speed rail and rapid transit around San Francisco Bay. Within the 'Ring of Gold,' Ninety-three percent (93%) of venues – all but two -- are within walking distance (less than 1 mile) from a rail or rapid transit station, ensuring efficient and easy transportation for all spectators.
- More detailed adjusted budget and revenue projections based on new information from Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Salt Lake 2002 that show a projected surplus of $409 million.
- A 2012 Paralympic Games plan that reflects the Bay Area's leading and historic role in the disability rights and disabled sports movements. Developed by Paralympians, disabled sports experts and leaders in the disability rights movement, the San Francisco Bay Area's 2012 Paralympic Games will be highly integrated with the Olympic Games in every aspect, providing the best competitive conditions for the Paralympic athletes and celebrating the achievements of the Paralympians before the world.
"The San Francisco Bay Area is the best place on earth for the 2012 Paralympic Games," said Larry "Trooper" Johnson, star Paralympian in wheelchair basketball from the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. "We're the birthplace of the disability rights movement, we're the world leader in accessibility and we more fully embrace and empower people with disabilities than any other place in the world."
- USOC/National Governing Body (NGB) partnership proposals, including a proposal that Sacramento host Team USA for training and processing before the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, an employer-sponsored program to employ athletes-in-training for 2012 and – using a share of the projected surplus from the 2012 Olympic Games in the San Francisco Bay Area – an unprecedented proposal to endow the governing bodies of each Olympic and Paralympic sport with funds to support elite amateur athletes-in-training.
- The Olympic Way and the Academic Olympiad, two unique, exciting concepts that expand on the cultural impact of the 2012 Olympic Games and the theme of Communitas – creating the true global village. The Olympic Way will create a unified, international exposition before and during the Olympic Games along the waterfront in San Francisco, using existing spaces such as the new cruise ship terminal, open areas along the Embarcadero and existing piers. Each nation will be invited to establish a National Olympic House and exhibition to create a promenade through the many cultures that reflect the San Francisco Bay Area and form the tapestry of the Olympic Movement. The Academic Olympiad will leverage the rich academic resources, unparalleled research and development programs and network of world-class educators in the Bay Area to develop a diverse academic curriculum, annual events and on-going programs around the modern Olympic Games in the seven-year period before the 2012 Olympic Games.
- A highly detailed transportation plan and extensive analysis prepared by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and CalTrans that studies the busiest day (Day 10) of the 2012 Olympic Games and proves the region's ability to easily manage the transportation demands of the 2012 Olympic Games.
- New, more detailed information and updates on the proposed, state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable Olympic Village, centrally located in the 'Ring of Gold' at Moffett Field, including additional detailed information on athlete transportation, athlete recreational activities, property status, Paralympian access and new artists' renderings. The Olympic Village would create over 3,000 new units of transit-accessible housing for the Bay Area after the Olympic Games, including many units of new affordable housing.
- Additional bid information on San Francisco Bay Area sports experience, regional accommodations, proposed organizational structures for the eventual Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (OCOG) and two of BASOC's current community involvement programs – Training for 2012 and Talking for 2012.
The submission of the Bid Addendum and launch of the 'Bridge to the Future' campaign kicks off the final seven months of the competition to be selected U.S Candidate for the 2012 Olympic Games. The 'Bridge to the Future' brochure was designed by Helikon Media and produced by httprint. In July, the USOC Bid Evaluation Committee will return to the San Francisco Bay Area for a second site inspection. In November 2002, the USOC will select the U.S. Candidate among Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington DC. In 2005, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will choose the 2012 Host City.
"With our 'Bridge to the Future,' San Francisco 2012 is in a unique position to win for the Bay Area, win for America and truly win for the long-term benefit of the Olympic Movement," said Cribbs.
Tony Winnicker, BASOC, 415-305-5617
Kenneth Hooper, Ketchum, 415-984-6157
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