The four cities bidding for the prize honour of hosting the 2016 Olympic Games have begun three intensive days of lobbying – with the Obama factor looming large ahead of Friday's vote by the International Olympic Committee.
The White House announcement on Monday that President Barack Obama would fly in to Copenhagen to appear before the International Olympic Committee in support of Chicago's bid for the Games was the news the other three candidates least wanted.
Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo all fear that the IOC membership could be swayed by Obama's charismatic appeal, as they were four years ago when then British prime minister Tony Blair helped persuade them to choose London over clear favourites Paris for the 2012 Olympics.
Two years later, then-Russian president Vladimir Putin was similarly persuasive when the Black Sea resort of Sochi, rank outsiders, won the right to stage the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Obama, who has close connections with the Windy City, had originally opted to stay at home to deal with his healthcare reform plans and announced that First Lady Michelle Obama would travel instead to the Danish capital.
Chicago bid leaders were delighted by Monday's news which means both Obamas will now be part of the team making the presentation to the IOC membership on Friday.
Sport - Obama set to be lord of the rings
The four cities bidding for the prize honour of hosting the 2016 Olympic Games have begun three intensive days of lobbying – with the Obama factor looming large ahead of Friday's vote by the International Olympic Committee.
The White House announcement on Monday that President Barack Obama would fly in to Copenhagen to appear before the International Olympic Committee in support of Chicago's bid for the Games was the news the other three candidates least wanted.
Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo all fear that the IOC membership could be swayed by Obama's charismatic appeal, as they were four years ago when then British prime minister Tony Blair helped persuade them to choose London over clear favourites Paris for the 2012 Olympics.
Two years later, then-Russian president Vladimir Putin was similarly persuasive when the Black Sea resort of Sochi, rank outsiders, won the right to stage the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Obama, who has close connections with the Windy City, had originally opted to stay at home to deal with his healthcare reform plans and announced that First Lady Michelle Obama would travel instead to the Danish capital.
Chicago bid leaders were delighted by Monday's news which means both Obamas will now be part of the team making the presentation to the IOC membership on Friday.
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