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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco abandoned its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics after plans for a new bayfront stadium collapsed when the San Francisco 49ers said they intended to move to Silicon Valley.
The announcement by the San Francisco 2016 Bid Committee on Monday left Los Angeles and Chicago as the remaining U.S. candidates to host the 2016 Summer Games.
San Francisco 49ers owner John York called city officials last week and said he was breaking off negotiations for a new stadium at Candlestick Point and was considering a move to Santa Clara.
Scott Givens, managing director and chief executive officer of the bid committee, said the 49ers' decision created a "perceptual gap" that hurt the city's reputation in the eyes of the Olympic committee.
"The damage has been done and the damage can't be pulled back," he said.
Members of the city's Olympic organizing panel had said last week they were stunned by the news and that they would scramble to find a new location for the Games' marquee events, including the opening and closing ceremonies and track and field competition.
The announcement by the San Francisco 2016 Bid Committee on Monday left Los Angeles and Chicago as the remaining U.S. candidates to host the 2016 Summer Games.
San Francisco 49ers owner John York called city officials last week and said he was breaking off negotiations for a new stadium at Candlestick Point and was considering a move to Santa Clara.
Scott Givens, managing director and chief executive officer of the bid committee, said the 49ers' decision created a "perceptual gap" that hurt the city's reputation in the eyes of the Olympic committee.
"The damage has been done and the damage can't be pulled back," he said.
Members of the city's Olympic organizing panel had said last week they were stunned by the news and that they would scramble to find a new location for the Games' marquee events, including the opening and closing ceremonies and track and field competition.
