Michelle Obama to lobby for Chicago Olympics
Sunday, 13 September 2009
CHICAGO, Sept 12 (AFP): US President Barack Obama will send his wife Michelle to Copenhagen to lobby the International Olympic Committee on his hometown Chicago's 2016 bid next month, the White House said Friday.
US Olympic officials had hoped the president would travel in person to Denmark to add an extra dose of star power to the bid,
but the White House said the fight to pass historic health care reform would keep him at home.
"One of the great honors I have as first lady is to represent America around the world and it is with great pride that I will go to Copenhagen to make the case for the United States to host the 2016 Olympics," Michelle Obama said in a statement.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Chicago would offer the world a fantastic setting for these historic games and I hope that the Olympic torch will have the chance to burn brightly in my hometown," she said.
The first lady will travel to Denmark for the International Olympic Committee session on October 2, where the victorious city will be chosen from remaining candidate cities Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
US Olympic officials had hoped the president would travel in person to Denmark to add an extra dose of star power to the bid,
but the White House said the fight to pass historic health care reform would keep him at home.
"One of the great honors I have as first lady is to represent America around the world and it is with great pride that I will go to Copenhagen to make the case for the United States to host the 2016 Olympics," Michelle Obama said in a statement.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Chicago would offer the world a fantastic setting for these historic games and I hope that the Olympic torch will have the chance to burn brightly in my hometown," she said.
The first lady will travel to Denmark for the International Olympic Committee session on October 2, where the victorious city will be chosen from remaining candidate cities Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.