Chicago 2016’s spelling gaffe

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In a press release announcing the guests at Monday night’s gala dinner for the International Olympic Committee’s evaluation commission, Chicago 2016 misspelled the family name of the consul general of France.

Press release version: Jean-Baptiste de Boiseeiere.

Correct version of his full name, from the French consulate’s website: Jean-Baptiste Main de Boissière.

It may be nothing more than a typographical error, but it certainly isn’t the best way to prove that Chicago is an international city or to win international respect and votes for the city’s Olympic bid.

Of course, maybe it’s just the same problem comedian Steve Martin always refers to when he says in one of his routines, ‘Those French, they have a different word for everything.’

Or maybe it was just an odd way for Chicago 2016 to show its language skills.

After all, gaffe is a French word.

-- Philip Hersh