Chicago 2016 reiterates Obama support for games

MILAN(AP) The leaders of Chicago's 2016 Olympic effort promised unprecedented political support for their bid, once again underlining the backing of President Barack Obama.

Speaking at an international sports media convention, Chicago 2016 vice chairman Mike Roberts said Obama is a key component in securing the first U.S. Summer Games since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

“President Obama is committed to bringing the Games back to the United States. He is an athlete who understands the power of sports to inspire change and because of this he has inaugurated the Olympic office in the White House," Roberts said.

“With Mayor (Richard M.) Daley in City Hall and Barack Obama in the White House we have the highest ever political support for an Olympic bid."

All four bidding cities - Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo - used the congress to present their bids. The host city will be selected at the International Olympic Committee meeting in Copenhagen on Oct. 2.

The Chicago bid team hopes Obama will attend the Copenhagen meeting.

“It is a very well known statement to say, 'Yes we can,'" Chicago bid chief Patrick Ryan said. “We're now saying it is, `Yes we will'."

Tokyo spoke of the support it has received from both the national and the Tokyo metropolitan government and the promise from Prime Minister Taro Aso to underwrite the bid.

Yoshimitsu Kaji, executive director of the Tokyo bid, spoke of the regeneration effect of the Olympics on the capital.

“Half a century ago, a city felt the process of change when the 1964 Olympic Games transformed Japan into a sports-loving and peaceful modern country," he said. “Now we have to hand over to the next generation and leave a legacy that will last another 50 years."

Rio said it would build on the expertise and experience of hosting major sports events, including the 2014 World Cup and the 2007 Pan American Games. The bid committee also underlined the support of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as promised this week to the IOC evaluation committee visiting Rio.

Madrid's city government promised Friday to cover the costs of the Olympic village if the Spanish capital wins the bid.

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