DeKALB | NIU could serve as an Olympic venue in 2016.

Officially announced Thursday after weeks of speculation, the Board of Trustees approved what it called an “intergovernmental agreement with the City of Chicago.”

This agreement makes NIU the host of the preliminary rounds of Olympic soccer. However, this will only occur if Chicago is selected to host the 2016 summer Olympics.

Thus far, Chicago and Los Angeles are the two American cities competing for the bid from the United States Olympic Committee. If Chicago wins the bid, it would compete with the international community to host the 2016 summer Olympics.

The selection of NIU as the site for the preliminary soccer rounds was the result of the Chicago 2016 Committee’s evaluation of surrounding sites.

“What happened was, there was an evaluation of facilities in the region that could meet the Olympic requirements,” said Eddie Williams, executive VP chief of operations, finance and facilities. “After evaluating those popular locations, NIU was chosen as the best location.”

The potential for NIU to land an Olympic competition could prove highly beneficial to the university, athletics director Jim Phillips said.

“It’s immeasurable the amount of value this has for a department or institution,” Phillips said. “It’s just phenomenal for Northern Illinois University.”

The event could also contribute to the growth of NIU’s soccer programs, men’s soccer coach Steve Simmons said.

“Any time you’re involved with the Olympics to some degree it brings positive attention,” Simmons said.

The football field would most likely be used as the main venue for the games with other sites acting as practice locations, Simmons said.

“They are looking at Huskie Stadium as a possible venue for the prelimanary games, and then using our game field and another field as practice sites,” Simmons said. “We’re looking at getting these to Olympic grade, which is a high level.”

The “high level” Simmons speaks of would call for NIU to possibly upgrade its athletic facilities. If Chicago is chosen as the Olympic host, those improvements would be discussed, Phillips said.

“That’s coming, if [Chicago] gets the bid,” Phillips said of facility upgrades. “That’s the next round of conversation.”

As of the Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee meeting Mach 8, expenses pertaining to the event had not yet been discussed, Williams said.

“It has not [been discussed],” Williams said. “I don’t know if I want to make any public comment, but we are looking at a mutual beneficial agreement.”