Obama to use international popularity to bring 2016 Olympics to Chicago

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has said that he will leverage his international popularity to try to bring the 2016 Olympics to his hometown of Chicago.

Obam will be traveling to Copenhagen personally to make the pitch Friday.

According to Politico, the White House is aware that the decision to go before the International Olympic Committee is fraught with political risk.

Former Vice President Al Gore staffer Chris Lehane said the expectations will be high for Obama’s trip.

“If they don’t come back with the gold, clearly there will be the same questions that American basketball would get if they don’t come back with the gold - they are expected to win,” he said.

Obama will appear before the IOC on Friday, and would be the first American president to make the pitch in person - but he won’t be alone. The leaders of the three rivals - Brazil, Spain and Japan - will also be there.

“You’re darned if you do, and you’re darned if you don’t,” said First Lady Michelle Obama in a briefing with reporters Monday.

“I’d rather be on the side of doing it, and I think that’s how the president feels. This is not one of those where you worry about what happens if not,” she added.

The first lady, who will accompany her husband on the trip, said the opportunity was too good to pass up.

“No matter what the outcome is, we’ll feel as a country, as a team, that we’ve done everything that we can to bring it home,” she said.

The president will be just one member of a Chicago bid team that includes prominent past Olympians and the entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey.

The Chicago team will get 45 minutes to make its presentation. (ANI)