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Illinois Senate OKs $250m backing for Chicago's Olympics bid

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-27 13:23

CHICAGO -- The Illinois Senate sent Governor Pat Quinn a bill that would provide a 250 million state guarantee to support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

The action came hours after Chicago Olympic planners reached a tentative agreement over benefits to local communities from massive construction projects launched for the Games.

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Both chambers in the Illiois State passed the guarantee with bi-partisan support.

Chicago Olympics supporters had sought the higher guarantee, which dwarfed the US$150 million in taxpayer money pledged in 2007 by then-Governor Rod Blagojevich.

It comes amid worries that Chicago's bid is at a competitive disadvantage because it doesn't include the full government guarantees offered by rival finalists around the world.

Chicago is one of the four cities bidding the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The other three cities are Tokyo, Madrid and Rio De Janeiro.