Rural Wisconsin Pushes for Summer Olympics 2016

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JACKI LYDEN, host:

In what may be a pre-pre-Olympic bid, rural Walworth County in southeastern Wisconsin wants a piece of the action. Chicago is trying to lure the Summer Olympics of 2016, and the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance is pushing to hold Olympic sailing, equestrian and bicycling events if Chicago gets the Games. Fred Burkhardt is the executive director of the alliance, and he joins us now. Hello, Mr. Burkhardt.

Mr. FRED BURKHARDT (Executive Director, Walworth County Economic Development Alliance): Good afternoon.

LYDEN: You know, I'm from Wisconsin too, and we're all accustomed to seeing Wisconsin athletes go to the Olympics, like the speed skaters Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen. But I never thought the Olympics might come to Wisconsin. How you'd get the idea?

Mr. BURKHARDT: Well, when Chicago several months ago released the fact that they were going to be one of the three U.S. bids for the Olympic Games in 2016, Mayor Daley indicated that he would like to make this a multi-state, north of the border set of Games. So we happen to have a very good area called the Kettle Moraine that is nationally known for mountain biking, and of course we have Lake Geneva, and it just seemed normal that what we ought to do is inquire if the Chicago group would be interested in holding a couple of the venues here.

LYDEN: The Kettle Moraine, could you explain what that is exactly for people who don't know?

Mr. BURKHARDT: It's rolling hills. It's essentially where the glacier stopped in North America. When the glacier during the Ice Age came down across the northern part of the country, Kettle Moraine was carved out by the glacial flow.

LYDEN: It would be fun to see people racing through the woods, perhaps dreaming of cheese curds. Who knows? But aren't you a little bit far from Chicago?

Mr. BURKHARDT: We're about 90 miles. The Olympic venues are generally within 100 miles, 120 miles of the main site. We're an hour, hour and 15 minutes from the Loop in downtown Chicago, so not a long distance.

LYDEN: And to be honest, I cannot think of a hill at least an hour and 15 minutes from Chicago until you get to your part of the world. Now...

Mr. BURKHARDT: Exactly.

LYDEN: You know, many communities would love to have the Olympics, but it also costs a lot of money. What sort of numbers has your group run? How much would it cost? How many jobs would be created?

Mr. BURKHARDT: We're looking at probably somewhere in the vicinity of a minimum of 2,000 jobs that would come into the community. In terms of cost, it's far too early for us to do a prediction. The first thing we have to determine is whether or not Chicago is interested in us as a venue.

LYDEN: Okay. I just have one more serious question for you.

Mr. BURKHARDT: Okay.

LYDEN: I'd like to know if, as a Badger, if you get the Olympics, I get to carry the torch.

Mr. BURKHARDT: I think that - we'll submit your name to the committee, and after they do a number of studies, they may come up to a conclusion.

(Soundbite of laughter)

LYDEN: Thank you. I would do you proud. I promise.

Mr. BURKHARDT: I'm sure you would.

LYDEN: All right, Fred Burkhardt is the executive director of the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance in Wisconsin, and thank you very much, Mr. Burkhardt.

Mr. BURKHARDT: It's been my pleasure. Thank you.

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