USA Travel Guide

I wrote a short article about the upcoming Olympic Day in Chicago for a newsletter, and I didn’t see any reason not to share it with you, faithful readers. Because it’s kind of what we do here, I added some hotel suggestions to the bottom. Enjoy! 

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In 2009, the modern Olympic Games celebrate their 115^th year of sportsmanship, contest and global community, but the folks in Chicago, Illinois are already looking a few more years ahead with their bid to host the 2016 Summer Games.

With the International Olympic Committee’s vote just months away, excitement in the Windy City couldn’t be higher, and cities all over the nation will be showing their support this June 23, 2009 with fun-filled Olympic Day events.

This year, more than 100 U.S. cities will participate in Olympic Day events, from major athletic competitions to small-scale local shindigs. Chicago is especially eager to show off its qualifications with a number of events, both amateur and professional. Opening the day, summer camps throughout the Chicago area will host morning youth fun runs, ingratiating a younger generation with the spirit of athletic achievement.

The real party kicks off in the afternoon over at North Avenue Beach, the proposed startling line of the 2016 triathlon. On Olympic Day, the beach will host numerous sporting competitions featuring official Olympic and Paralympic events such as beach volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball and kayaking. Additionally, the beach will serve as the finish line for two 3-mile runs, each starting at 6:00 p.m. at Irving Park and near Grant Park.

Also starting at 6:00 p.m. is the North Avenue Beach Celebration Party, a great place for competitors, spectators, families and all supporters to relax and enjoy live concert entertainment from local favorites. For baseball fans, you can even celebrate Olympic Day at U.S. Cellular Field where the Chicago White Sox will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (ticket information).

Chicago currently competes with Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo for the honor of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will announce its decision on October 2, 2009, which means there’s still plenty of time to get involved in the effort.

Learn more about Olympic Day and the 2016 Olympic Games in Chicago at the official Web site.

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Drive in the day before for a relaxing evening in Chicago and so you don’t have scramble come Olympic Day morning. Of course, we always love to stay in Chicago, which is probably why we can never stop at just one hotel. Two options for you: 

• Hotel Indigo Chicago / Vernon Hills – Awesome boutique hotel with upscale amenities and the personality to match. They won a design award recently, and the moment you walk in you’ll know they deserved it.
• Hilton Garden Inn Chicago / Magnificent Mile – Get a little more out of your trip to Chicago by staying on the world-famous Magnificent Mile (and without paying an arm and a leg to do it).

Get out there and support your country on Olympic Day in Chicago.