'Proud' Obamas boost Chicago bid

Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics has been boosted by US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.

America's first couple both addressed Olympic delegates meeting in Denmark to decide between Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo as the 2016 host.

Mr Obama said the United States was "ready and eager" to assume the "sacred trust" of staging the Games.

Mrs Obama, a Chicago native, said: "I never dreamed the Olympic flame would light up lives in my neighbourhood."

The presentation ceremony began at 0730 BST with Chicago's polished pitch. The winning bid is expected to be announced at about 1800.

Mr Obama, who described himself as "a proud Chicagoan", told members of the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen: "I urge you to choose Chicago.

"If you do - if we walk this path together - then I promise you this: The city of Chicago and the United States of America will make the world proud."

Chicago are rated as slight favourites, but many commentators are describing the outcome as too close to call.

"Any one of these four cities could deliver a great Olympics," said London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.

"This is probably the highest quality contest there has been. It is very close competition and it could all be decided by the final presentations."

The city receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated round-by-round until one candidate secures a majority.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge told the BBC: "I believe it's going to be very close - this is a trend we have seen in the last five to six years.

"Security - not only physical but also in terms of the organisation - is very important. We need a very good Olympic Village, state-of-the art venues, a good transportation system.

"If beyond that we can have a very good home team and a very warm public, the game is almost over."

A large factor behind Chicago's potential success could lie in the presence of President Obama, a former Illinois senator and Chicago resident.

Obama arrived on board Air Force One in the Danish capital on Friday at 0650, but his wife has been there since Wednesday, lobbying IOC members.

In the past, the impact of star personalities on Olympic bids has been key, demonstrated when lobbying by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair helped London win the 2012 Games and Russian President Vladimir Putin led Sochi's bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

However, Chicago's rival bidders will also be boasting big names, with King of Spain Juan Carlos, the President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Japan's new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, all coming to Denmark to lobby for their respective cities.

A number of factors are considered by the IOC's voting members in determining an Olympic host city; political and social support, general infrastructure, sports venues, Olympic Village, environment, security, transport, accommodation, past experience, finance, and legacy.

However, alongside these more fundamental considerations, other factors such as emotion, sentiment, geography, politics, self-interest and other factors also play a role - often making predicting a winner near impossible.

The key to victory is picking up votes from the eliminated cities.

The voting starts with all four cities in the hat and the candidate city with the least amount of votes is eliminated at the end of the first round. The IOC members from country of the rejected city then join the voting and a new vote is cast between the three remaining cities. This process is repeated until a majority is found, expected to be in the third round.

Still, one major consideration is believed to mark Chicago and Rio de Janeiro as favourites.

Although there is no official IOC continental rotation policy, it is believed the Americas may have an edge as previous Summer Games will have been held in Europe, Asia, Europe again and Australasia (although it is worth noting the 2010 Winter Games are in North America).

And Rio will be hoping the opportunity to award South America the Olympics for the first time could prove decisive.

Long-time IOC member Dick Pound noted recently: "Policy-wise, the IOC has to decide if we're ready to go to a new continent (South America). Is the time right?"

Factors against Rio include concerns about crime and security in the area, an issue representatives from Madrid and Tokyo have drawn attention to in recent speeches and press releases.

Some extra spice has been added to the process with a row breaking out after Spain's Olympic vice-president Jose Maria Odriozola labelled Rio as "the worst of the four candidates", breaking IOC rules about criticism of rival bids.

Madrid officials swiftly apologised for the comments, but Rio have made an official complaint to the IOC over the incident.

Madrid, loser to London in the 2005 bidding process for the 2012 Games, boasts a sound plan, having already built most of its venues. It also has the behind-the-scenes support of former IOC president and current honorary president Juan Antonio Samaranch and credit in the bank from previous bids.

Tokyo also makes a compelling case on paper - a compact Games with superb green and redevelopment credentials.