“Izvestia”: “Obama Becomes an Olympian”
The US President is following in Vladimir Putin's footsteps.
President Barak Obama will personally join Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics by going to Copenhagen, where the fate of the next Olympics will be decided.
On October 2, the members of the International Olympic Committee will choose which of the four cities - Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo or Madrid - would host the 2016 Olympics. At present Chicago and Rio de Janeiro are thought to be the favourites.
No one denies these days that sport is a form of politics, and when it comes to the Olympic Games it is top-level politics. One may recall that in 2005 the British Prime Minister Tony Blair descended on Singapore in a successful last-minute attempt to secure the 2012 Olympics for London. Another example was Vladimir Putin's famous speech in Guatemala, delivered in English with a sprinkling of French words, which tipped the scales in favour of Sochi as the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Initially the cheerleader for the American candidacy was to be the first lady, Michelle Obama. The President appointed Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to assist her, throwing in American television's "hydrogen bomb" Oprah Winfrey and a couple of dozen Olympic celebrities. Obama himself initially said he would not go to Copenhagen because he had too many things to do in Washington. Then he had a sudden change of heart, probably because he felt that the Olympic load was too heavy for the First Lady. Indeed, other countries were sending their political heavyweights to Copenhagen.
However, to date no American President has ever been present at an IOC vote. What prompted Obama to decide to go to Denmark was not just American, but Chicago patriotism. Although the President was born on Hawaii, he considers Chicago to be his home city. Michelle was actually born in Chicago. It was in Chicago that Obama began his political career, became Senator and celebrated his presidential victory.
Chicago's designers will provide the members of the delegation with uniforms, "including ties" designed to demonstrate "team spirit and cohesion".
Melor Sturua
4th federal issue
