Obama: ‘Most American of American cities’
President Obama described himself as a “passionate supporter” of the Games and as “a proud Chicagoan.”
He said he looked forward to welcoming the world to the shores of Lake Michigan and America in 2016. “America is ready and eager,” he said.
He described his own association with and love for the city, noting it was the place where he met his wife. He cited Chicago’s ethnic diversity with “a rich tapestry of neighborhoods.”
Chicago is the “most American of American cities,” with more than 130 nations represented among its population, he said.
He harkened to his own background, how his family moved around a lot, how he lived without roots in Hawaii and Indonesia, but found a true home in Chicago 25 years ago.
“I came to Chicago, and on Chicago’s streets I worked along side men and women who were black and white, Latino and Asian. People in every class and nationality and religion,” he said.
He concluded by saying Chicago would make the IOC proud.
2:29 a.m. Michelle Obama: ‘Choose Chicago, choose America’
Michelle Obama, appearing slightly nervous at the outset, made an intensely personal presentation, talking about how the Olympics inspired her as a young girl and would do the same for the present generation of children.
She said the Games would be used “to bring us together” and “change lives all over the world.”
She said the Olympics “would light up lives across the world.”
“I was born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, not far from where the Games will open and close… Sports are what brought a community together,” she said.
“We picked sides not on who you were, but what you could bring to the game.”
Sports, she said, is what she shared with her father.
‘I’m asking you to choose Chicago. I’m asking you to choose America,” she said.
2:21 a.m. Chicago called a good place for athletes
Brian Clay, the 2008 decathlon champion, and Linda Mastandrea, director of Paaralympic Sport and Accessibility for the city’s 2016 bid, said the city will be a good place for athletes to compete.
The cited the beauty of the city’s parks and its lakefront.
The city’s Olympic Village would put 90 percent of the athletes within 15 minutes of their venues, with spacious rooms and a private beach, Mastrandrea said.
–Kathy Bergen
2:15 a.m. More virtues: Corporate connections, shopping
Bid team leader Patrick Ryan stressed the city’s economic strength, noting the Midwest is home to hundreds of major corporations. The city, he said, will provide “fresh territory for expansion of sponsorships.”
He said the city’s shopping rivaled that of London and New York, and called Chicago “a safe city.”
“For the next seven years, we will focus exclusively on being your committed partners,” he said. “If so honored, we will begin tomorrow.”
–Kathy Bergen
2:07 a.m. Daley: ‘Chicago will deliver’
Mayor Daley was third up.
“Chicago will deliver,” he promised, “because in Chicago we just don’t talk about what we will do, we do it.”
He said the city’s bid had a “a full government guarantee with the enthusiastic appeal of the city’s leaders.”
“If you award us the Games, we will be your best partners,” he pledged.
At the beginning of his presentation, he cited Chicago’s connection to the Olympics through two of its premier athletes, Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalf, who competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
He noted they competed on behalf of a nation that would not give them, as African-Americans, basic rights. “Why? Because the Olympic Games represent something bigger,” he said.
--Kathy Bergen
1:55 a.m. Presentation begins with ‘Sweet Home Chicago’
Chicago has begun its presentation to the International Olympic Committee with a brief introduction by United States Olympic Committee member Anita DeFrantz and a video of the city to the strains of “Sweet Home Chicago.”
She was followed by Larry Probst, chairman of the USOC, who promised the city would “fulfill every obligation” to get the Olympics.
12:50 a.m. Obama arrives in Copenhagen
President Barack Obama arrived in Copenhagen this morning to help in Chicago’s final push for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Air Force One touched down at 12:50 a.m. Chicago time, 7:50 a.m. Copenhagen time. He will spend less than five hours on the ground.
He was greeted by a phalynx of Danish dignitaries. His motorcade left the airport 19 minutes later.
Later today, the IOC will choose among Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Madrid. That decision is scheduled to be announced shortly before noon Chicago time. There could be as many as three rounds of voting. After each round, assuming no city reaches a majority, the lowest vote-getter will be eliminated.
The city’s presentation to the IOC, led by First Lady Michelle Obama, is scheduled to begin at 1:45 a.m. Chicago is up first. It will have 45 minutes to make its case, with another 15 minutes for questions and answers. The president will answer questions.
Early handicapping has Rio has a slight favorite over Chicago. South America has never hosted an Olympics.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) was a late add-on to the traveling team accompanying Obama on Air Force One. Also aboard were two Cabinet members from Illinois, Secretary of Transporation Ray LaHood and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Durbin said White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel was reluctant for the president to make the trip. Emanuel had told Durbin that Obama’s busy schedule, coupled with the fact that health care legislation is unresolved, made him skeptical about the Copenhagen venture.
The president joins his wife, Mayor Richard Daley, Oprah Winfrey and the remainder of Chicago’s bid team in Copenhagen to make Chicago’s case.
For earlier coverage on the Copenhagen countdown CLICK HERE.
Psychics weigh in on Chicago’s chances HERE.
Winfrey said the IOC vote could produce “a decision that could be a landmark in Chicago history.”
The president will speak Friday on behalf of Chicago’s bid and take questions from IOC members during the 15-minute question period after the 45-minute prepared presentation.
“He and the First Lady will both participate in the question and answer session,” Presidential advisor Valerie Jarrett said in a Wednesday interview with the Tribune and four other media outlets — one from Italy, one from Japan, one from Great Britain and another from the United States.
–Peter Nicholas, Jeff Finkelman
