Obama May Make Olympics Trip To Copenhagen After All

WASHINGTON — The White House is sending an advance team to Copenhagen, Denmark, to make preparations in case President Barack Obama decides to attend the International Olympic Committee's meeting there next month, an administration official says.

The committee will choose a host city for the 2016 summer Olympics during the Oct. 2 meeting. Obama's hometown of Chicago is a finalist, but the president has said he can't commit to attending the meeting because of the health care reform debate in the U.S.

First lady Michelle Obama, a Chicago native, will attend and make a presentation to the committee.

The White House official spoke on background because a final decision has not yet been made on the president's plans.

Comments

[Kundah]

The corrupt politicians will use the Olympics and imminent domain to kick people out the city; mostly minorities! Most cities and countries do not make money after they have hosted the Olympics, people need to become more educated by learning about how other places benefited from this. The cost of this type of spectacle is in the billions of dollars. And no it will not create enough jobs to counter the corruption and the price tag of having the games in Chicago.

[Kundah]

Its interesting to me that 99% of the people that are going over to Denmark NONE of them are from Chicago. Lets talk about my city. We are the murder capital of the United States, the public school system is terrible, high unemployment, crime, drugs, school drop out rates, irresponsible people, and lets not forget some of the most corrupt politicians in the world. I know Obama is friends with the crooks like Mayor Daley. Who in my opinion is just like George Bush. We as residents of Chicago don’t need or want this over hype, costly and played out Olympics.
Looking forward to the next election hoping the Republicans can remove some of these democrats.

[furtivelook]

He's got to go in order to keep his sun-sized carbon footprint from shrinking!

[Aldyth]

Don't go! Don't do anything that makes it more likely that Chicago will get the Olympics. The cost overruns are generally in the billions and we don't want to get stuck with the bill.

[BVictor1]

Go! Go! Do everything it takes to help Chicago get the bit. It would be qite beneficial to bringing visibility and much needed federal dollars to the city. There are several transit projects in the pipeline that could be funded.

[Fadeyi Oloro]

Aren't There Any Republican Of Ronald Reagan's Calibre LEFT On The The Hill? Props To Sen. Snowe... But The Rest Are Retardicans. RIP GOP!!!

[Malron Jett]

I hope he shakes up the meeting with a surprise attendance. That should really piss off the King of Spain LOL

[48thGuy]

Don't ya love the suspense!.....The voting must be very close for POTUS to let it slip that perhaps he will go to Copenhagen...I just hope it's a spectacular bid show for the City, something with a Blues Brothers theme, Buddy Guy and the CSO , stuff like that!....

[poomplet]

The King of Spain is going.
The Prime Minister of Japan is going
The President of Brazil is going.

Not their wives (or, not JUST their wives).

Ergo, the erratic, egotistical IOC members will take it as a slight if O doesn't go himself.

It is crucial that he goes...I fee MUCH better now that it looks like he will.

[ejhickey]

He should not go. There is an element of risk to any travel, especially a long distance flight. Consider the purpose of the trip: to help the city of Chicago obtain the Olympics. Obama is President of all the country, not just Chicago. What if , God forbid , he suffered a fatal accident on this trip that did not involve official business of the entire country? I admit the risk is small, BUT risk is still present. Those who say he should go are being very short sighted.

[Joe001]

Yes, Obama is President of the United States, but that includes Chicago. If Chicago wins its bid, the Olympics will be hosted not just by the Windy City, but by the U.S. Getting the games would create thousands of new American jobs at a time of high unemployment in the midst of an economic crisis. I don't personally care if he goes to Denmark or not, but it can be eminently justified if he does choose to go as seeking an event that would be beneficial to the United States and its citizens.

[BVictor1]

Stop being goofy.

He was in support of the olympics before he became president.

One reason why London got the 2012 games is because Tony Blair attended the final presentation. One reason why the winter games will be in Russia is because Putin went.

Your reasons make no sense.

[Kngkyle]

Hopefully he decides to go. The Olympics can do a lot to boost the economy and help change the image of America. I don't think 1 or 2 days away is going to make any difference with health care. Besides, there is something called the telephone. He probably does most of his business using it anyway.

[Mihailo]

He should absolutely not go. There are those who would embarrass him, and imagine the mileage the GOP would get if he went and they gave it to Rio. Everybody knows Obama is a Chicagoan and wants the games in Chicago. His appearance would not change Chicago's proposal. We will win or lose on the merits. The man is in the middle of a very important political battle, and he should stay. Michelle is the life-long Chicagoan, born and raised, anyway....she can represent its dynamism beautifully.

[gradybridges]

He better go. Illinois got him the Presidency. He owes the state everything. 1 day won't change what happens with health care.

[movecenter]

News flash: there are 50 states in the US, and President Obama carried many of them. With all of the crises he's dealing with on behalf of the entire country, I can't see how he could possibly have time to deal with the Olympics. Personally, I'd rather him get a healthcare reform bill passed.

[gradybridges]

If Obama is never elected to the Senate, he's never President. 1 or 2 days will not matter. Get the Olympics.

[Michele Himmel]

Michelles life embodies the Olympic spirit they say. That`s why she is going to help bid for the games. Really? She`s a high paid pro snagging positions that used to bef or amatures? I see.

[Mihailo]

twilight zone.........