07/18/2007 | Pleasant Prairie Proposes Prairie Springs Park as 2016 Olympic Triathlon Site
During a May meeting of the Pleasant Prairie Recreation Commission an idea proposed by new trustee and Recreation Committee member, Clyde Allen, was discussed regarding submitting a proposal to be a host site for the triathlon portion of the 2016 Olympics should Chicago be selected as the venue for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
In May of 2006, Chicago, along with 4 other major US cities, entered into the US Olympic Committee (USOC) review process as a possible host site for the 2016 games. On April 14, 2007 Chicago was selected by the USOC as the US city that will enter into the International Olympic Committee (also know as the IOC) bid.
The IOC bid process will begin in September of 2007 and will conclude with the selection of a host city on October 2, 2009. Should Chicago be selected as the host city for the 2016 Olympic games, the preliminary proposal is to hold the triathlon events at the North Avenue Beach on Chicago's lakefront.
Pleasant Prairie, currently the host site for the Chicagoland Danskin Triathlon and the Pleasant Prairie Triathlon, has a successful history of hosting large-scale triathlon events. The Village sought the help of the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to help create and submit a proposal to the Chicago 2016 Committee.
It is expected that a proposal will be submitted to the Chicago 2016 Committee some time before the end of the year. Should Chicago win the honor of hosting the 2016 Olympic games, the potential for a variety of economic and cultural benefits for areas in and around the city, including Pleasant Prairie, may become a reality.