Obama Goes to Denmark to Help Chicago's Olympic Bid

The fight for the 2016 Olympics is heating up now that the United States of America and the city of Chicago in particular, will send the greatest ambassador in the world, President Barack Obama.

There was talk that Obama’s wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, was going to Denmark to spearhead Chicago’s quest for the 2016 Olympics, but the Commander in Chief will pick up the reigns himself and try to guide the beast that is Chicago into first place in the minds of the IOC.

Let’s answer some questions regarding both Barack’s visit to Denmark and Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics.

BetUS Odds to Host the Olympics in 2016

Chicago           -170 

Rio de Janeiro   +300 

Tokyo               +400 

Madrid             +700 

Will Obama’s visit make a difference?

Hey, Oprah is a powerful lady and Michelle is downright beautiful and has great communication skills but this Barack Obama we’re talking about.  Obama is one of the most popular and influential figures in the world right now.  The world continues to love him even though some U.S. citizens have grown cold towards the prez.

Just read what Dick Pound, a long time member of the IOC recently said n regards to Obama’s visit to Denmark and you get the idea.  “I don't think there's an IOC member on the planet that wouldn't love to meet your president. He's a transformational figure in the world today.”

What makes Chicago’s case compelling?

There are really only two cities, in my mind, that have a shot at this, Chicago and Tokyo.  There’s a huge contrast between he two cities as Tokyo is all about innovation while Chicago is about good old-fashioned Olympic togetherness.

Chicago is preaching compactness.  The U.S. Olympic Committee has stated that more than 90% of the athletes would be within 15 minutes of the venues that would hold their events.  An 80,000 seat temporary Olympic Stadium would also be built in Washington Park.  Finally, Chicago is just one of the most beautiful and well run major cities in the world.

Is Chicago’s case compelling?  It depends on your point-of-view.  If you believe that Olympics is about togetherness and making a statement as a unified world, then, yes, Chicago’s case is very compelling.

Who would throw the best games: Chicago, Rio, Madrid, or Tokyo?

None of the cities would do a bad job, but Chicago comes in first because, well, there’s no way that the American’s would throw a bad Olympic Games.  Rio is too busy for Olympic minded tourists.  Tokyo is too busy as well and their idea of an Olympic Games involves something out of a Phillip K. Dick novel (Blade Runner anyone?)

Madrid?  Talk about terrorism issues!  They’ve got Al Qaeda and the Basque Terrorists to worry about!

It’s Chicago, friends.  They would throw the best Olympic Games.

Which city is going to win, and why?

Chicago.  Oprah, Barack and the compactness of the city adds up to a victory in the race to get the 2016 Olympics.

Would hosting the Games be a good thing for the city of Chicago from an economic standpoint?