Chicago 2016 Olympic bidding team told the visiting evaluation delegation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Moday that the city would host the most environmentally friendly games ever if Chicago gets the 2016 bid.

As Chicago continues to make its pitch for the summer Olympics, organizers are pushing a theme: the blue-green games.

Chicago's presenters say they are confident that Lake Michigan, the parks and overall environmental quality is helping Chicago shed the rust-belt image that some members of the international evaluation team had.

Robert Accarino, director of environment for Chicago 2016, said, "we focused on number one, renewable energy and reducing carbon footprint associated with the games here."

However, he said, renewable energy that they would use during the games has not been determined simply because the games still would be seven, eight years away from now.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2009)