Obama to fly to Denmark to help bring Olympics to Chicago

COPENHAGEN - U.S. president Barack Obama will fly to Copenhagen on Friday to support Chicago's bid to stage the 2016 Summer Olympics, the White House said on Monday.

A personal appearance by Obama, the first by a sitting U.S. president at an Olympic session, could potentially play a crucial role in swaying votes by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members who must choose between Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

Each of the cities will make a presentation on Friday in the Danish capital to the IOC membership who will then cast their votes the same day. The IOC has 115 members.

The contest has been seen by Olympic observers as one of the closest ever with no clear front runner and all four bids capable of succeeding.

The U.S. president's decision to attend the vote, only days after telling IOC chief Jacques Rogge he would not be able to attend due to his health care reform plans, greatly improves Chicago's chances of becoming the first American city to host the Summer Games since Atlanta in 1996.

Obama has spent much of his political life in Chicago and has a home close to some of the planned Olympic venues in the heart of the city.

His presence in Copenhagen had long been a point of speculation, with Japanese Olympic officials fearing the 'Obama factor' and Brazilian officials saying his potential absence from the session would boost the other cities' chances.

Victory brings not only the Summer Games but enormous prestige, a public relations boost and potential economic and development benefits.

First Lady Michelle Obama will be part of the Chicago delegation in Copenhagen lobbying for the Windy City. Her husband will fly in early on the day of the vote and go straight from Copenhagen airport in a 24-car convoy to the Bella Convention Centre where he will make an entry with his wife into the IOC session.

They would both make presentations to the session, the White House said, before the president returns home on Friday afternoon.

"President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama symbolize the hope, opportunity and inspiration that makes Chicago great, and we are honored to have two of our city's most accomplished residents leading our delegation in Copenhagen," said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley in a statement. "Who better to share with members of the International Olympic Committee the commitment and enthusiasm Chicago has for the Olympic and Paralympic Movement than the President and First Lady?" The other three candidates will also be bringing their most senior officials. Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva will be part of the Rio team, King Juan Carlos of Spain will back Madrid's bid and newly elected Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama will support Tokyo.

Heads of state have in recent years played a greater role in the bidding process, with then British Prime Minister Tony Blair successfully lobbying for London to win the 2012 Games in 2005 and Russian President Vladimir Putin helping the Black Sea resort of Sochi to clinch the 2014 Winter Olympics vote in 2007.