Obama to attend Olympics vote

CHICAGO — In the final days of Chicago's quest to host the 2016 Olympics, President Barack Obama is making himself a central player in the race to bring the Summer Games to his adopted hometown.

Obama announced Monday that he will fly to Denmark for a speaking part in Chicago's final presentation to the International Olympic Committee, ending what has been a concerted behind the-scenes lobbying effort by the White House and Obama friends on behalf of their home town. First lady Michelle Obama, born and raised on the city's South Side, will also address committee members, who will make their decision Friday, choosing among Chicago, Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo.

Obama said in mid-September that health-care legislation probably would keep him too busy to make the trip, but he now plans to leave Washington on Thursday night for Copenhagen, returning Friday afternoon.

"I think the president believes health care is in better shape," said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. "I believe he felt strongly and personally that he should go and make the case for the United States, and that's what he's going to do."

Amy Brundage, a White House spokesman, said Obama's absence from Washington would be brief and won't hurt efforts on his top domestic legislative priority.

Michelle Obama, referring to her husband's Olympics decision, told reporters: "You're darned if you do, you're darned if you don't. I'd rather be on the side of doing it. One conversation or one example or illustration that connects could make a difference, and our view is we're not taking a chance."

The competing cities will each be represented in Copenhagen by a head of government, but Obama will be the first U.S. president to make such a personal pitch.

"Having the leader of the free world there supporting the bid sends a good message," the first lady said. "It will demonstrate to the IOC that this bid has unprecedented commitment throughout our government."

Gibbs called the Chicago bid "far and away" the strongest of the contenders and said in response to potential criticism, "Surely it's within the purview of the president to root for America."

Loyalty to Chicago was central to Obama's choice. And the connection between the city's host committee and the White House could hardly be closer, with speechwriters, Cabinet officers and other administration figures working to capture an Olympics whose opening ceremony would take place three blocks from the Obamas' house.

At last week's meetings at the United Nations and the Group of 20 economic summit in Pittsburgh, the Obamas made pitches to foreign leaders.

They have also made personal appeals to Olympic Committee members, an effort that will intensify when Michelle Obama arrives in Copenhagen on Wednesday.

Valerie Jarrett, an adviser to the president who also was a deputy chairman of the Chicago host committee, is coordinating the White House effort and will accompany the first lady. She likens the project to a political campaign - and one particular type of contest that Team Obama relished.

Dick Pound, a Canadian committee member, said Obama is a "new and transformational leader" whose participation in Copenhagen "can only help."

"Regardless of how polarized domestic politics is," Pound said, "he is immensely popular ... and a person who is good in these kinds of situations." Information for this article was contributed by Anne E. Kornblut, Dan Zak and Amy Shipley of The Washington Post, and by John McCormick and Kate Andersen Brower of Bloomberg News.