Olympics > Mayor Daley

The City Hall protest planned by Chicago police union members for this Thursday -- the same day the International Olympic Committee evaluation crew arrives in Chicago -- "won't have any effect" on the city's bid for the games, according to the mayor. But, Daley said, it is "unfair" that police who are unhappy with their contract negotiations are trying to link the dispute to the 2016 bid.

"If everybody has a complaint about something else, it has nothing to do with 2016... This is about the vision of the city. This is about transforming the city," Daley told reporters yesterday after touring the West Side CityEscape Garden Center.

"It's really unfair because the Olympics is bigger than Mayor Daley," he continued. "It's bigger than the police or fire union, all these unions. It's bigger than them."

Daley also said he thought President Obama could help sway the IOC's decision when he presents Chicago's final pitch in Copenhagen this October. Daley heralded the president as "our quarterback" and made references to other leaders who successfully pushed for and won Olympic bids for their cities. Among those mentioned were Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who helped win the 2014 winter games for his country, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose three-day visit to Singapore with the IOC helped bring the 2012 summer games to London.

While Chicago is competing with three cities -- Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid -- that have full backings from their national governments to cover bid costs, IOC President Jacques Rogge said Friday that a full guarantee wasn't necessary. He added he is "quite sure Chicago is able to deliver" at least a strong guarantee, which Daley said improves the city's chances for winning the bid. [Trib, S-T]