1 October 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions supports the city of Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Executive Director, Dirk Ficca, explains, “The Olympics have the unique ability to bring together athletes, fans, and nations in the spirit of harmony and friendship. While sport may be the reason for the gathering, the ultimate achievement is the peace that we achieve and the understanding we gain.”

As Chicago's largest, most religiously diverse organization promoting interreligious understanding — and with a history reaching back to the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 — the Council looks forward to offering its unparalleled resources to work hand-in-hand with the city to ensure that the religious and spiritual needs of every Olympic visitor, regardless of nationality, cultural orientation or religious affiliation, are exceeded.

But this wouldn’t be the first time that the Parliament of the World’s Religions and the City of Chicago came together for a historic event. As the Chicago 2016 website noted, the Parliament of the World’s Religions has long played a distinguished role in helping Chicago achieve its worldwide reputation as a city where diverse cultures and faiths meet and live in harmony.

In 1993 — one hundred years after the first 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions as part of the World’s Columbian Exhibition— we organized and hosted in Chicago the first modern Parliament of the World's Religions, whose legacy of interreligious cooperation continues to flourish in Chicago. Subsequently, we have organized and hosted successful Parliaments that have brought over 8,000 delegates from around the globe to Capetown, South Africa (1999); Barcelona, Spain (2004); and are currently in preparation for the 2009 event in Melbourne, Australia, December 3 - 9

The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, headquartered in Chicago, whose mission is to promote understanding among adherents of all faiths and spiritual traditions and to foster a peaceful, cohesive society.

Contact:
Ms. Zabrina Santiago
Deputy Executive Director and 
International Partner Cities Director
Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
70 East Lake Street, Suite 205
Chicago, Illinois 60601
o(312)629.2990 x 235
c(773)320.1827