Obama's Hand in the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

WILL OBAMA PUT CHICAGO OVER THE TOP?

(Amount budgeted for the bid in parentheses)

Odds To Host the Olympics in 2016

Chicago           -170  ($4.8 billion)

Rio de Janeiro   +300  ($14.4 billion)

Tokyo               +400  ($4.4 billion)

Madrid             +700  ($5.6 billion)

President Obama has launched another campaign, and in this one, he's looking for some change he thinks most people in America can agree on - that being the placement of an Olympiad right here in the U.S.

Obama is getting ready to travel to Copenhagen to make a pitch on behalf of his former constituents in Chicago (-170), which is engaged in a hot competition with three other cities (Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Madrid) to host the 2016 Games. 

Obama is the first president ever to make an appeal to the International Olympic Committee. As such, maybe it's the kind of move that will get the IOC members a little starstruck. Dick Pound of the IOC has remarked that meeting the President of the United States would be a great thrill for many of the members.

Naturally, the Democratic political machine in Chicago loves it.

"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?", asks Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

So let's forget about the economic crisis, the bailouts, the Middle East, the turn toward socialism for now - there are going to be a lot of people getting their palms greased in the Windy City if this Olympic bid goes through (I mean a LOT of people).

Obama is going to be joined by two members of his cabinet - Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Plenty of former Olympic athletes will be traveling to Denmark as well, including Michael Johnson and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and what would a pitch for Chicago be without Oprah Winfrey, who helped put Obama where he is?

Former NFL kicker Morten Andersen, who is from Copenhagen, is also part of the delegation. No, that's not part of the satire. As far as I can tell, he never played for the Bears, but he's an ideal guide, if nothing else.

Chicago is not the only city vying for the 2016 Games that is "coming heavy." Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia are going to be there, which means the closest peasants like you or I will be able to get to Copenhagen this week will be Stockholm.

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