As Chicago competes for a chance to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, a new organization will try to build on the city's reputation as a sports town by working to attract amateur and international events.

A wrestling match between the U.S. and Russia on February 6 will be the first major event hosted by the new World Sport Chicago organization.

Mayor Richard M. Daley said the new group was not a belated attempt by Chicago to embrace amateur sports as it tries to convince the U.S. Olympic Committee to pick it over Los Angeles as the American bid city to host the 2016 games. Los Angeles already has a similar organization.

The USOC's candidate city must be submitted to the International Olympic Committee on September 15. The host city will be chosen in 2009.

Patrick Ryan, head of Chicago's Olympic movement, said World Sport Chicago was created with the goal of showcasing the city's ability to host amateur sporting events, not to compete with Los Angeles.

Ryan said the new organization, which will be privately funded and has an initial budget of US$500,000 (euro385,000), will continue even if Chicago doesn't host the games.

Michael Conley, a former Olympic and world champion in the triple jump, will head the new sports organization.