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As you pass the signs for the event on the street, on buses, in PECO lights, and see the extensive news coverage, we hope all Philadelphians will understand why this is such an important moment for the city's future.
You see, the Philadelphia Sports Congress, a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, which served as the incubator for Philadelphia's bid for the 2016 Olympics, is continuing to carry the city's torch through the Olympic & International Sports Project.
This legacy of Philadelphia's bid focuses on executing a plan that will ensure that the Philadelphia region capitalizes on the momentum created by the 2016 bid. Through this project, we are furthering the city's recognition in the international sports community, and implementing programs that communicate the power of sport and Olympism to the residents of this city and region, especially young people.
Philadelphia is one of only two U.S. cities to host two Olympic trials this year - a true testament to the city's new role on the Olympic scene.
The celebration began in January when the city hosted the U.S. Olympic table-tennis trials before sellout crowds at Drexel. It continued in April, when Temple's Liacouras Center hosted a boxing dual match between the national teams from the U.S. and Puerto Rico. And now, the biggest event - gymnastics - leading up to the summer games will be held right here in Philadelphia with an economic impact of more than $20 million.
Rounding out the yearlong festivities will be an Evening of Champions celebration on Aug. 8 in Chinatown. It will be a public celebration of Chinese culture, tradition and Olympism as the 2008 summer games kick off in Beijing. All of Philadelphia is invited as we send our good wishes around the world.
We know that there are great opportunities out there for Philadelphia to host major domestic and international sporting events within the Olympic community. When Philadelphia has the opportunity to bid on an Olympics again in the future, we will have demonstrated successes in hosting Olympic and international sporting events.
Our plan now is to find those opportunities, land them and continue to improve the city's relations with the international sports community, while making a great economic impact on the greater Philadelphia region.
We also know that there are signature events in the city like the Penn Relays, Dad Vail Regatta, Philadelphia Triathlon, Philadelphia Marathon and Triple Crown of Cycling, that, with more support, can be catalysts for expanding the city's profile internationally. Our plan is to collaborate with these events and others to shine a brighter spotlight on the wealth of high-caliber sports that call Philadelphia home annually.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's office of travel and tourism industries just reported that international visits to Philadelphia are at an all-time high, up 26 percent from 2006 to 2007.
More than a half million people traveled here last year from other countries to experience our great city. Through hosting and marketing these new and existing events, and continuing our Olympic movement in Philadelphia, the possibilities for making the city a global competitor are endless.
Philadelphia has an amazing opportunity to make our Olympic dreams come true, and the evidence that they can is all around us this weekend. *
Joe Torsella and David L. Cohen are co-chairmen of the Philadelphia Olympic & International Sports Project, an initiative of the Philadelphia Sports Congress.
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