Chicago Mayor Richard Daley today dedicated a new Olympic-themed playground and field house to Olympic gold medalist and Chicagoan Jesse Owens. Daley says the International Olympic Committee likely will give weight to such projects as it gets ready to choose the 2016 Olympic host city next month.

DALEY: You better pay attention to Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe. If they don’t, then they don’t know the history of the Olympic and Paralymic movement. This alone … this is really unique. I doubt if Tokyo, Madrid, or even Rio de Janeiro have something like this in a community park.

Daley says money for the project came from the city, state, and from the Chicago Park District’s parking garage lease. The field house includes a competition-sized gymnasium and Olympic-inspired artwork. Chicago is competing with Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, and Tokyo for the 2016 Summer Games.