Olympic statue exhibit comes to Navy Pier

October 23, 2007 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- At Navy Pier Wednesday, it was the unveiling of sculptures inspired by the spirit of the Olympic games. Pieces of art from around the world are here in Chicago as an artistic preview of the Olympics next summer in Beijing, China.

It wasn't about Chicago and 2016. This is all inspired by the games next summer. First Lady Maggie Daley stopped by to get a close look at what is called the "Beijing Olympic Landscape Sculpture Exhibition." It's the story of art and Olympic athletes.

"Simply the message is that the Olympics isn't just about sports. When the Olympics were started in 1896, the modern games, the idea was to include art the whole time. But unfortunately, it fell by the wayside 60 years ago," said Tudor Clee, who helped organize the sculpture exhibition.

So this showing of 51 sculptures from around the world is designed to change that and make art a medal winner next year in Beijing. This all started out as a contest with more than 2,000 entries from 90 countries. They are the finalists in this Olympic spirit competition.

"Olympics is connecting people to share in one people. So Olympics should be more than just two weeks every four years," said Shien Joe, Beijing Organizing Committee of Games.

The exhibit has already visited 30 cities and is scheduled for five more countries around the world before it ends up in Beijing next summer before the Olympics. It's sort of a passing of the art baton around the world.

Though it's not about Chicago in 2016, you couldn't help talk about it.

"We like to think this, this sculpture exhibition is a bridge linking Beijing and Chicago," said Joe.

The free exhibit is open to the public at Navy Pier through November 3, and you can vote on your favorites and help pick the gold, silver and bronze winners for next summer's Olympics.

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