Philliness On The World Stage

Philly's Olympic bid goes mayor-less City touts itself without Street, the only city leader missing among field of 5 Staff and wire reports

Our competition was tough.

And Philly was the only city that didn't send its mayor.
Philly's effort to host the Olympics in 2016 is turning out to be a lot like the Games themselves: A serious contest against rivals just as eager to win.

Five cities made their pitches yesterday to the U.S. Olympic Committee Board of Directors, which is deciding whether to bid on the 2016 Games.

Each city had 15 minutes to make its presentation and 15 minutes to answer questions from USOC officials.

Philly, which has assembled a committee of high-profile local leaders to develop its pitch, was represented by Philadelphia 2016 co-chairman Joe Torsella, city Commerce Director Stephanie Naidoff and paralympian April Holmes.

Mayoral spokesman Joe Grace said Mayor Street previously met with U.S. Olympic Committee members. Grace said Street had sent an extensive letter that led off Philadelphia's 15-minute presentation to the Olympic Committee in San Diego yesterday.

The mayor felt that Naidoff was "the best person" to go to yesterday's presentation because she was immersed in the details of the city's bid, Grace said.

The TrekMedic muses:

Way to go Mayor Street! Could it be that you sent Stephanie Naidoff because no one wants to be associated with a petty thief like yourself?? (SIGH) Just another reason I'm leaving this embarrassment of a city as soon as I can!