BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Two prominent business and community leaders Friday joined efforts to get Cincinnati named the U.S. Candidate City for the 2012 Olympic Games.
James Rogers, president and CEO of Cinergy Corp., and William Keating, retired publisher of The Cincinnati Enquirer, were named co-chairmen of the Greater Cincinnati Amateur Sports Association, the organization created to bring the Games here.
They will work with Nick Vehr, president of the association. Mr. Rogers, who serves on numerous civic boards in Cincinnati, said he is thrilled to be a part of what he perceives as an achievable dream.
"The thought of the Olympic Games coming to this region, with Cincinnati as the heart and soul, should inspire all of us to work hard enough to make the dream come true. I am honored to be involved," Mr. Rogers said.
Mr. Keating, a former judge, congressman and city councilman, said that if Cincinnati wants to be the designated U.S. candidate for the Olympic Games, it has to make it happen.
". . We will never be selected as the next U.S. city to seek to host the Olympic Games if we don't work toward the dream," Mr. Keating said. "I look forward to working throughout this community and this region to make it happen."
Mr. Vehr, former Cincinnati councilman, welcomed the help.
"The willingness of these Cincinnati leaders to lead this effort simply means we are one step closer to achieving our dream of being selected as the U.S. Candidate City for the 2012 Olympic Games," Mr. Vehr said.
Mr. Vehr became president of the association in 1996 and started a drive to get Cincinnati named as the candidate city for the 2008 Olympic Games.
The United State Olympic Committee (USOC) decided in 1997 not to go after the 2008 Olympic Games and instead concentrate on the 2012 Games.
Mr. Vehr said Cincinnati is competing with Los Angeles; San Francisco; Arlington, Texas; Seattle; Tampa, Fla.; New York City; and Washington, D.C.-Baltimore.
Bids must be submitted to the USOC by the fall of 2002.
