Obama sweeps in to boost Chicago Olympic bid (News Feature)

By John Bagratuni Sep 28, 2009, 13:23 GMT

   Hamburg - US President Barack Obama's decision to travel to Copenhagen is seen as a massive boost for the city's hopes of winning the 2016 Olympic Games.

Obama is scheduled to arrive in Copenhagen early Friday for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) general assembly vote, before returning home following the meeting.

He will join his wife Michelle, who will be in Copenhagen from Wednesday, in an effort to help sway the IOC's vote the way of Chicago.

Obama had appeared to be too busy pushing healthcare reform to attend the decisive vote in the Danish capital but now feels that his absence for a day will not have a negative impact.

A White House official told ABC News that 'it's gonna take everything we got' to win.

Obama will leave Washington on Thursday, and arrive in Copenhagen on Friday morning local time just before Chicago's presentation to the voting members of the IOC, a White House statement said.

'President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will both make presentations to the IOC during Friday's session,' it said.

'They will discuss why Chicago is best to host the 2016 Summer Games, and how the United States is eager to bring the world together to celebrate the ideals of the Olympic movement.'

   Olympic observers say Obama's presence is a major fillip for the city in the race for the 2016 Games with Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo.

Both Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin were seen as instrumental in helping the 2012 Games go to London and the 2014 winter Olympics to Sochi.

   IOC president Jacques Rogge had already acknowledged that 'human chemistry' as an important factor, saying Obama was 'charismatic' in his support for Chicago.

Never before has a US president felt it necessary to attend a bidding US city's lobby directly before a IOC general assembly vote. Sport was regarded as a private affair for previous successful candidates St Louis (1904), Los Angeles (1932/1984) and Atlanta (1996).

Chicago will, however, face a strong rival in Rio de Janeiro, with Madrid and Tokyo seen as slight outsiders.

However all candidates are sending in their big guns: Royal couple Juan Carlos and Sofia as well as Prime Minister Luiz Rodriquez Zapatero for Madrid, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for Rio, and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama for Tokyo.

   In the United States, many had already considered the omens favourable for the Midwest metropolis and trade centre to land the 2016 Games.

   Along with the president and First Lady, the city's lobby includes the likes of talkshow queen Oprah Winfrey and basketball legend Michael Jordan.

   Patrick Ryan, the CEO of Chicago's bid, had told German Press Agency dpa no one would have interpreted Obama's absence as a slight, if he didn't make it.

   Even without the Obama factor, the Chicago bid has plenty of things in its favour, he said.

'Our key advantage is summed up in the report of the evaluating committee which said that Chicago has been blessed with 'a virtual playground for the celebration of sport, culture and humanity.' In no place else can you integrate sport and culture in one place,' he said.

Now Obama could prove to be an even bigger advantage.

As Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley said in a statement, the Obamas 'symbolize the hope, opportunity and inspiration that makes Chicago great.'

Chicago was honoured to have 'two of our city's most accomplished residents' leading the delegation in Copenhagen.

'Who better to share with members of the International Olympic Committee the commitment and enthusiasm Chicago has for the Olympic and Paralympic Movement than the President and First Lady,' he said.