LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — A group opposing Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Games took its case to International Olympic Committee headquarters Tuesday.
Three activists from the No Games Chicago organization sought a meeting with IOC president Jacques Rogge and a chance to address more than 90 IOC members at a key meeting Wednesday for Chicago's bid campaign.
"Our major request was to have 10 minutes for the full IOC body to hear us," group spokesman Tom Tresser said. "I know it is unprecedented but we wanted to ask."
IOC spokesman Mark Adams met with Tresser and said Rogge would be told of the protesters' proposal.
However, Adams rejected their further demand to sit in on a 90-minute session at the Olympic Museum on Wednesday when Chicago bid leaders will present their case to IOC members and answer questions.
The meeting is a crucial test of Chicago's campaign and its first formal gathering with the majority of 107 IOC members whose votes will decide the 2016 host in October.
Chicago is followed into the sessions by bid teams from Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid — and will be met outside by hometown opponents.
The protesters have brought copies of a document detailing their arguments for each IOC member. They claim Chicago's bid lacks the finance, competence, infrastructure and public support to sustain it.
"It is not about the Olympics. We love the Olympics but Chicago can't handle it," said activist Rhoda Whitehorse, a retired public school teacher.
No Games Chicago also staged protests when the IOC's evaluation team visited in April to grade the city's ability to stage the games. Protesters rallied at Federal Plaza and marched to the Aon Building, where bid leaders were meeting.
IOC members will choose the 2016 host on Oct. 2 in Copenhagen.
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