Obama and the Summer Olympic Games of 2016
This Thursday night, on 1 October 2009, President Obama and the US First Lady are leaving for Copenhagen, Denmark to pitch Chicago for the Summer Olympic games of 2016. Other administration officials are also accompanying them for this big push since IOC will be voting on the host city for this big event there. This is the first time an incumbent of the White House is attending an IOC vote.
Obama lived in Chicago for more than 25 years and when he is proudly calling the city his home town, not a trace of pretense or knavery can be found. He also represented Illinois in the Senate before becoming President of the United States.
The other cities competing in the race are Madrid of Spain, Tokyo of Japan and Rio de Janeiro of Brazil. Top leaders of these countries will also be in Copenhagen to push for their respective countries.
Previously, four summer Olympic games have been hosted by The United States, in 1904 at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1932 and 1984 in Los Angeles, California and in 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia. The winter games of 2002 was hosted at Salt Lake City, Utah.
The US Olympic Committee voted for Chicago in the meeting held in April bypassing the claims of cities like Houston, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and San Francisco, California.
President Obama conducted an event at the White House in early September to initiate the rally behind Chicago for being the host city for the Summer Olympic games of 2016.
Obama appears to be basking in the glory of Chicago by calling it "a city of broad shoulders, big hearts and bold dreams" and a city "of legendary sports figures, legendary sports venues and legendary sports fans" and he continues to emphasize saying "We want these games."
Obama will be meeting Queen Margrethe II and her husband, Prince Henrik at Denmark. He will also be meeting Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.