Michelle Obama Boosts Bid for Chicago US Olympics 2016

Michelle Obama is hoping that the 2016 Olympics will be held in Chicago. Mrs. Obama was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, not far from the suggested locations for the 2016 Olympic Games. President Barack Obama is sending his wife Michelle to Copenhagen next month in hopes that she can urge Olympics organizers to select Chicago to host the 2016 Games.

President Obama was hoping to travel to Copenhagen with his wife but he felt that he could not leave in the midst of working on his health care reform campaign. Mrs Obama and the President's senior advisor Valerie Jarrett will join U.S. organizers in Copenhagen on October 2, when the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics will be chosen from the four candidate cities. There is tight competition between Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo for the position of host for the 2016 Olympics.

"It is with great pride that I will go to Copenhagen to make the case for the United States to host the 2016 Olympics," Michelle Obama said in a statement. "There is no doubt in my mind that Chicago would offer the world a fantastic setting for these historic Games and I hope that the Olympic torch will have the chance to burn brightly in my hometown."

Organizers in Chicago are confident that although President Obama would be a great influence if he went to Copenhagen with Mrs. Obama it will not hurt their chances. The IOC members from around the globe should understand the importance of the health care reform issue that is extremely important.

Mrs. Obama's dynamic personality and strong interest in youth, health and sports will hopefully be a huge influence when the final decision is made as to where to hold the 2016 Summer Olympics.