Look out, Chicago. The race to host the 2016 Summer Olympics just got a little more crowded.
The Japanese Olympic Committee on Thursday notified the International Olympic Committee of its intention to offer Tokyo as a candidate to host the games, according to The Associated Press. It is the first formal step in making a bid for the Olympics with the IOC, which will select the winning city in 2009.
Mayor Daley said Thursday that Chicago faces tough competition from the growing list of “very formidable cities.”
Madrid and Rio de Janeiro also have been approved as candidates by their national Olympic bodies.
Other possible contenders include Rome; Prague, Czech Republic; Doha, Qatar; and Baku, Azerbaijan.
All candidate cities must submit initial bid files to the IOC by Sept. 13.
OK, Tokyo. Get ready to rumble.
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PRIOR OLYMPIC HOSTING EXPERIENCE
Chicago: Has never before hosted the Olympics.
Tokyo: Hosted the Summer Games in 1964, marking the first time the Games were held in a non-Western nation.
POPULATION
Chicago: 2.7 million
Tokyo: 12.5 million
COMPLEXITY OF TRANSIT SYSTEM
Chicago: (see maps at right)
Tokyo: (see maps at right)
MEDALS WON IN 2004 GAMES
Chicago: 103 (for U.S.)
Tokyo: 37 (for Japan)
FAMOUS INVENTION
Chicago: Chicago-style hot dog
Tokyo: PlayStation 3
THE WINNER
Um, OK, so perhaps the PlayStation is a little cooler than the hot dog. But for the sake of loyalty, we hand the title to Chicago.
