PORTAGE, Ind. (AP) — The South Shore commuter rail line could help some northern Indiana hotels fill their rooms with spectators if Chicago is chosen as host of the 2016 Olympics, officials say.

If the games come to Chicago, many tourists will see the proximity, transportation options and affordability of staying in northwestern Indiana, said Speros Batistatos, who is president of the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The 1994 World Cup soccer tournament helped many visitors see the region's connection to Chicago when 2,000 German guests filled hotel rooms in Lake and Porter counties and took the South Shore line into the city every day, he said.

"We are far more linked to Chicago's economy than anyone else is," Batistatos said Thursday.

Hotel rooms as far as Fort Wayne and Indianapolis could benefit, he said.

"I just think you're going to have such demand for the Olympics," Batistatos said. "I think it would be the single largest event as an industry we've seen."

Chicago this month was named a finalist for the 2016 games along with Tokyo; Madrid, Spain; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The host city is expected to be named next year.

It also could help some Indiana communities promote their athletic fields as possible practice areas, said Kevin Breitzke, a Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission executive member.

Jerry Hanas, general manager of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, said the rail line is involved in talks with the Chicago Olympic committee on transportation planning.

"They believe the rail lines are going to bring people in," Hanas said.

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Information from: The Times, http://nwitimes.com