Chicago bid impresses team

CHICAGO: The head of the International Olympic Committee's evaluation team said on Tuesday she was "impressed" by Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Games but gave no hint as to whether it had an edge over its three rival candidates.

Praising Chicago officials' hospitality and hard work in presenting their vision, bid commission chairwoman Nawal El Moutawakel gave little away as to whether Chicago had an edge over Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro or Madrid. "We felt that the concept, the vision and the love of the sports were there," she told a news conference.

The commission evaluates 17 themes for each of the four cities, including aspects such as the suitability of venues, financial considerations and the legacy left behind for residents.