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For a guy overseeing what many consider the biggest one-day sporting event in the world -- and certainly the biggest for San Diego -- Chuck Nichols is the epitome of grace under pressure.
With Super Bowl XXXII less than four months, Nichols, president of the San Diego Super Bowl Host Committee, appears cool, calm, and ready for every contingency.
Nichols says the work of the committee is "right on target," with more than $2 million raised or committed thus far for a budget of about $3 million.
Nearly all of that money is coming from corporate sponsors and hospitality industry firms eager to have their names associated with the Super Bowl.
It is the Host Committee's job to ensure that all the logistics are in place not only for the big game on Jan. 25, but for the many other activities surrounding it.
For starters, about 100,000 visitors are expected here. Just getting these guests to and from the airport, making sure they have adequate accommodations and transportation around town and for the game takes lots of planning.
Then there are the 30 to 40 related events and parties taking place during the week, all of which require coordination, advance publicity and plenty of volunteers, about 12,000.
In addition to parties, the week leading up to Super Bowl will include a football exhibition called the NFL Experience, a golf tournament, a fun run, and a musical and entertainment festival called Super Fest. The latter event is free and will be held Downtown.
"Even though most people want to be in stadium, there will be lots of things for people to do that will allow them to participate in Super Bowl," Nichols says.
With all that's going on, the game is almost "anticlimactic," he says.
This is Nichols' second time around as chief executive for a major sporting event. He was president for the America's Cup '95, the organization responsible for managing the international yacht regatta held off the coast of San Diego. He took the position in 1992 after taking a leave...