BEIJING, Sept. 4 -- Talk show host Oprah Winfrey threw a rousing welcome home party for more than 150 U.S. Olympic medal winners on Wednesday that was a salute to the athletes and a pep rally for efforts to bring the 2016 summer games to America. Winfrey, whose program is seen 140 countries and boasts a weekly U.S. audience of 46 million, filled an open-air concert venue on Chicago's Lake Michigan waterfront with more than 4,000 people who jumped, shouted and cheered in swirling red, white and blue confetti as the medalists walked through the aisles and took the stage.
"Team USA, you want to make us all stand taller," she told the athletes at the end of the program, adding that she hoped they would have a chance to return to Chicago for the 2016 games, for which the city is bidding against Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey gestures as she introduces Archbishop Desmond Tutu during a reception to honor him being awarded the Lincoln Leadership Prize Chicago, Illinois May 13, 2008. The award is given individuals who "accept the responsibilities imposed by history and demanded by conscience", according to the Lincoln Presidential Library foundation
Swimmer Michael Phelps, who came back from last month's games in Beijing with a record eight gold medals, told Winfrey his feat had not sunk in but "I need to get back home" to Maryland to see friends and his pet bulldog.
"One of the biggest things I want to do is grow the sport of swimming," he added, noting that he has established a charitable foundation to promote the sport using the $1 million bonus he earned from the makers of Speedo swimwear.
Wednesday's show, which will air in syndication on September 8, marked the start of Winfrey's 23rd season.
Another swimming star, silver medalist Dara Torres, told Winfrey she was not done with competitive swimming at age 41.
"I kind of want to keep going for a bit," she said, unlike past Olympic competitions after which, she said, she didn't want to go near the water again.
"When you're in the water the water doesn't know your age," she added.
The venue for the 2016 games will be announced in October next year. Phelps was scheduled to meet with Chicago community leaders later in the day to help provide support for the city's bid.
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修3.1《Festivals around the world》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修3.5《Canada—“The True North”》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修4.1《Women of achievement》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修2.1《Cultural relics》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修2.3《Computers》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮模块复习学案:模块6.3《understanding each other》(原卷版)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:选修6.4《Global warming》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:选修6.5《The power of nature》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修2.4《Wildlife protection》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮复习必备单词素材:Unit 17 Laughter(北师大版)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修1.4《Earthquakes》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮复习必备单词素材:Unit 19 Language(北师大版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习必备单词素材:Unit 24 Society(北师大版)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:选修6.1《Art》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修2.5《Music》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修3.2《Healthy eating》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修5.4《Making the news》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修5.3《Life in the future》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮复习必备单词素材:Unit 20 New Frontiers(北师大版)
2017届高考英语一轮模块复习学案:模块4.3《tomorrow’s world》(原卷版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习必备单词素材:Unit 18 Beauty(北师大版)
2017届高考英语一轮模块复习学案:模块5.3《science and nature》(解析版)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修2.2《The Olympic Games》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修4.2《Working the land》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修1.2《English around the world》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修1.5《Nelson Mandela—a modern hero》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:必修4.3《A taste of English humour》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮模块复习学案:模块7.1《living with technology》(解析版)
2017届高考英语一轮全册复习课时作业:选修7.1《Living well》(新人教版含解析)
2017届高考英语一轮模块复习学案:模块6.2《what is happiness to you》(原卷版)