 Last week I posted a piece about meeting Debi Thomas, who was my first Olympic Hero. This week I have an interview with her for you all! Below Debi gives us an update on her life today. This is perfect timing because Debi Thomas is helping Chicago 2016 to open up the Millennium Park Ice Rink this week!!! |
 Presentation to the Olympic Council of Asia and the 1st Asian Beach Games. On October 18-26, the Chicago 2016 team travelled to the beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia to do its second international presentation to an Olympic Continental Association. The Olympic Council of Asia is an international organization that represents the 45 National Olympic Committees from the Asian Continent. During the OCA General Assembly, Chicago 2016 also got to experience firsthand the first Asian Beach Games. |
 No doubt that Chicago is still shaking from the after-effects of President-elect Obama’s stunning rally in Grant Park. Newspapers, magazines and blogs have angled for all kinds of stories surrounding Obama’s historic win. |
 Chicago 2016 is busier than ever as we continue to work on our Bid Book, which I introduced a couple posts ago. With less than three months to deliver the final product, the Bid Book has become an all consuming project for some of us, especially those of us on the Bid Delivery team. |
 Arguably the most famous gymnastics coach in history hit town Thursday. |
My second special correspondent is Manuel Laborde. Manuel was part of the 2016 Team that traveled to Acapulco, Mexico to present to the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) or ODEPA as we know it in Spanish. |
On February, 2007 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I sat in my cousin’s room, watching the Calgary Olympic Games on TV. All the women in my family had gathered in the room to watch the women's figure skating finals because of one person - Debi Thomas. I was only seven years old, but I knew exactly what was going on. |
Twenty students from various Chicago Public Schools around the city got the special opportunity to visit the offices of Chicago 2016.These students, who came from high schools like Simeon, Lane Tech, Lake View, Kennedy, and Whitney Young, participate in the Economics Club with the CPS Education to Careers Department. |
 For over a year now, I've had the chance to watch the Chicago 2016 organization develop and evolve through my role in the Sport & Accessibility division. My role within the bid is twofold: first, to showcase the tremendous achievements of the City of Chicago in the area of accessibility for persons with disabilities, and then second, to ensure that the Chicago 2016 plan builds upon these achievements to create a new standard of quality of life for persons with disabilities, both during the Games and as a legacy of Chicago 2016. |
On October 8-11, the Chicago 2016 team traveled to the beautiful city of Acapulco, in the State of Guerrero, Mexico, to do its first international presentation to an Olympic Continental Association. The Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) or Organización Deportiva Panamericana (ODEPA), an international organization that represents the 42 National Olympic Committees from the American Continent. PASO was important because it was our first time to put forth our official Olympic message as a candidate city. |
 We’ve all probably heard about it, but how many have actually understand it or have watched it? |
As one major campaign based out of Chicago is capped off by a spectacular Grant Park celebration, you can’t help to think but two office buildings over what Chicago 2016 has learned from this past election cycle. |
Regardless of your political affiliation, I think we can all agree on one thing: this was a historic week for the United States. For the first time in history, we have an African-American President. |
I wake up at 3:15 a.m. But it’s not because I’m going to be a Principal for a Day for a third straight year. I need to join Kiratiana from legacy and education in our bid to pick up our day’s featured Olympian, Bryan Clay. |
 This past Thursday I went to a fundraiser at Texas de Brazil to support cancer survivors at an event promoting Imerman Angels, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the CancerClimber Association. |