Now Chicago takes on the rest of the world. The Windy City’s bid to hold a Summer Games for the first time moved to the international stage Saturday when the U.S. Olympic Committee capped a yearlong search for an American candidate for 2016 by picking Chicago over two-time host Los Angeles.

“It’s just beginning,” said Patrick Ryan, Chicago’s bid committee chairman. “It’s a long road.”

Having won over the USOC despite lacking venues ready for an Olympics, Chicago’s task is to persuade the
International Olympic Committee that it deserves to be the host, joining a group of bidders expected to include Madrid, Prague, Rome, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

The IOC will award the 2016 Games in October 2009.

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