Obama Boost Chicago's Olympic Bid

President-Elect Barack Obama has stayed out of the financial crisis noting that he isn't president yet and that someone else still has responsibility for the country. However, in his new position as most-powerful-man-in-the-world-in-waiting, he has thrown a bit of his weight around. He has just told the Eurpean Olympic Committees that Chicago ought to host the 2016 games. Having a hometown president may just do the trick for the Windy City.

The Mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, turned up at the meeting in Istanbul to introduce the 85-second Obama pitch as part of the city's 15 minute presentation. Reuters said, “It showed Obama sitting at a desk with the American flag on one side and a basketball with good luck wishes from Lenny Wilkens, coach of the 1996 gold-medal US basketball team, on the other."

In the spot, Mr. Obama said, “In the coming years, my administration will bring a fresh perspective on America's role and responsibilities around the world. But if we are to truly meet our shared challenges, we must all work together. By uniting the world in a peaceful celebration of human achievement, the Olympic Games reminds us that this is possible." He also said the Olympic movement was a chance “to reach out, welcome the world to our shores and strengthen our friendships across the globe."

How did that go over? "It was very dramatic," said Patrick Hickey of Ireland, president of the European Olympic Committees. "I think everyone in the room was impressed, and it added a great deal of spice to the Chicago presentation. The message was excellent. He was very gracious to the Olympic movement." IOC member Mario Pescante of Italy, stated, “He has a lot of things to do, and for him to speak about sport at this moment means he has a strong feeling for sport and, consequently, for the candidature.”

Chicago faces some stiff competition from Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Madrid. Rio's candidacy is strengthened by the fact that the games have never been held in South America and by Brazil's rise as a regional power. Tokyo clearly has the necessary infrastructure and successfully hosted the games in 1964. Madrid would be building on Barcelona's excellent games of 1992 and has more than sufficient accommodation and transportation abilities; however, it's bid is weakened by the fact that the 2012 games will be in Europe, in London. Nevertheless, Chicago has one thing the others don't, the most popular American politician in a generation campaigning for it. Barack Obama knows a little bit about successful campaigns, and if he is re-elected in 2012, Chicago might just host the games in his final year as president.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

Kensington Review Home