Chicago makes final four for 2016 Olympics As expected yesterday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) included Chicago as one of the final four official Candidate Cities for the 2016 summer Olympics.

Baku, Doha and Prague didn't make the cut, which leaves Chicago to fight it out in the bidding process alongside Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo. The final decision will be made in Copenhagen in 16 months time.

Only once has a city that came out top of the International Olympic Committee’s preliminary report gone on to host the games, London was a poor 3rd at the same stage for 2012, so lucky then that Chicago came down the various rankings, despite being the bookies favourites.

Tokyo and Madrid walked away with most of the plaudits which include infrastructure, accommodation, safety, venues, finance and environmental conditions. In fact Doha scored higher than Rio overall but their desert climate did for them.

Chicago's best points came unsurprisingly in hotel accommodation and their plan for a lakeside Olympic village. The cities worst aspect was the ageing and investment deprived public transportation system.

Of course there are many reasons why I would love Chicago to win the 2016 Olympic games, especially four years after they'd have been held in London, but one other motive is that my companies founder and retired chairman is also the leader of Chicago 2016. I have met him on many times and he is a very influential and convincing leader. Lets hope he can help bring the games to the windy city.  ¶ 07:22