U.S. President Barack Obama is going to Copenhagen on Thursday to support his hometown's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Obama, along with first lady Michelle Obama, will fly to Copenhagen on Thursday to lobby voters of the International Olympic Committee before a vote on Friday on where the 2016 summer games should be hosted. Obama would be the first U. S. president to actually appeal in person to the International Olympic Committee for an Olympics event.
Early this month, the White House said that Obama would not travel to Denmark because of seeking a health care overhaul, instead sending first lady Michelle Obama to lead the U.S. delegation.
The Obamas, who both call the Windy City Chicago home, have been open and aspiring supporters of Chicago's bid for the Olympics. But while the lobbying effort is a first, it was not necessarily unexpected; the White House had carved out time from the president's schedule to make the trip, and had sent an advance team to Copenhagen just in case.
Chicago faces competition from Madrid, Spain, Tokyo, Japan and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for placement of the 2016 games.
The White House said in a statement that Obama and his wife "will both make presentations to the IOC during Friday's session. 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."
Chicago is also bringing 14 Olympic and two Paralympic gold medalists, including Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Nadia Comaneci and Nastia Liukin.