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.