US China envoy makes pitch for Chicago Olympics
BEIJING (AP) — The new U.S. ambassador to China slipped in a pitch for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Olympics while presenting his credentials to the Chinese president on Friday.Jon Huntsman presented President Hu Jintao with a commemorative book on Chicago, “in support of the city’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games,” the U.S. Embassy in Beijing said in a statement.
China’s support could be crucial because Beijing hosted the Olympics last year and commands considerable influence within the International Olympic Committee, which meets on Oct. 2 in Copenhagen to select the 2016 host.
Chicago is a strong contender to bring the Summer Games back to the United States for the first time since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
However, Rio de Janeiro also has appeal as it seeks to bring the Olympics to South America for the first time, and is considered the main threat to Chicago. Tokyo and Madrid are also bidding to host the games.
