Ryan Shows Again Why He Is Chicago's Can-do Man

NANCY ARMOUR

CHICAGO (AP) — Pat Ryan isn't a gold medalist, like the leader of Madrid's bid committee. Nor does he have a long history with the International Olympic Committee, as the heads of Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo's organizations do.

What he does have is intelligence, focus, an even temper and a deep sense of civic responsibility — and that's made him the perfect fit for Chicago's efforts to win the 2016 Olympics.

"The work Pat has done has raised the bar to an unprecedented level," said Robert Fasulo, chief of international relations for the U.S. Olympic Committee. "We've never had such strength behind a bid and unity of purpose between the (USOC), a city and a bid committee, and I think a lot of that has to do with the strength of a leader like Pat Ryan."

Chicago is locked in a tight contest with Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo going into the IOC's vote Friday in Copenhagen.

Ryan has always enjoyed the Olympics — track and field was one of his sports at his suburban Milwaukee high school — and went to the 1996 Games in Atlanta as a spectator. But he had no idea the enormity of the task he was undertaking when Chicago Mayor Richard Daley asked him to explore a bid for the 2016 Olympics.