White House sends team to Copenhagen, where 2016 summer Olympics host city will be chosen

October 3rd, 2009 Daley: Olympic loss won't harm Chicago's futureCHICAGO — It wasn't the homecoming Chicago's Olympic delegation expected. The team returned home empty-handed Saturday, with Mayor Richard Daley suggesting a bid for the 2020 Olympics was unlikely but promising Chicago would come out of the recession even without the economic stimulus of the 2016 Summer Games.

October 2nd, 2009 Obama uses personal story to boost Olympics bidCOPENHAGEN — President Barack Obama says the United States is "ready and eager" to host the 2016 Olympics in his adoptive hometown of Chicago. Praising the United States' bid to host the games, Obama told the International Olympic Committee the bid deserves their support.

September 30th, 2009 Heavyweights join lobbying for 2016 OlympicsCOPENHAGEN — Spain's king, Brazil's president and First Lady Michelle Obama are converging on Copenhagen for a final push to convince the International Olympic Committee to award the 2016 Olympics to their respective cities. In the last 48 hours before Friday's IOC vote, lobbying efforts are shifting into high gear.

September 30th, 2009 Obama to make in-person pitch for 2016 OlympicsFYI--Need to cut and past newest photos to FRONT of photo string. First photo appears on Yahoo!, other sites.

September 30th, 2009 Rio puts President Lula at heart of Olympic bidCOPENHAGEN — Rio de Janeiro's bid to host the 2016 Olympics put Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the center of its campaign Tuesday. Sidestepping questions about the effect President Barack Obama's presence could have on Chicago's bid, Rio's team said Silva had 80 percent approval ratings in Brazil.

September 30th, 2009 Obama will go to Denmark to pitch for OlympicsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will travel to Denmark this week to support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to the president, told The Associated Press Monday morning that Obama will leave Thursday and join his wife, Michelle, in Copenhagen, where they'll make the pitch to the International Olympic Committee.

September 17th, 2009 Tokyo's new PM urged to push Olympic bidTOKYO — Tokyo's Olympic bid organizers have urged new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to join them in Copenhagen for the International Olympic Committee's vote on the host city for the 2016 Summer Games. The Tokyo team said Thursday that 13 Japanese sporting greats, many of them former Olympic medalists, will join them for the trip to Denmark's capital, where the vote will be held on Oct.

September 10th, 2009 Rogge: 2016 race will hinge on 'couple of votes'LONDON — IOC president Jacques Rogge expects the race for the 2016 Olympics to be decided by "a couple of votes" and says Chicago's chances shouldn't hinge on whether President Barack Obama goes to Denmark to push his home city's bid. "I see really no favorite," Rogge said Thursday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

June 22nd, 2009 Chicago 2016 head says taxpayer risk 'improbable'CHICAGO — The head of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics says its is unlikely that taxpayers will be on the hook for millions of dollars if the games turn out to be a financial flop. Patrick Ryan said Monday that the risk of taxpayers' money in Chicago bid is "improbable." Bid organizers met with the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland last week.

June 17th, 2009 Rogge: Finance shouldn't drive 2016 Olympic voteLAUSANNE, Switzerland — IOC president Jacques Rogge says a legacy for athletes should outweigh economics as the priority for voters when choosing which city will host the 2016 Olympics. Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo will make pitches to members of the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday in a crucial test ahead of the October vote on which city hosts the 2016 Summer Games.

June 16th, 2009 Prague out of race to host 2020 Summer OlympicsPRAGUE — Prague will not enter the race to host the 2020 Summer Olympics as planned due to the global economic crisis. The city council of the Czech capital voted 11-0 Tuesday to cancel preparations for the bid, said Marketa Reedova, deputy mayor and council member.

June 16th, 2009 Chicago activists bring Olympics fight to IOC baseLAUSANNE, Switzerland — A group opposing Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Games took its case to International Olympic Committee headquarters Tuesday. Three activists from the No Games Chicago organization sought a meeting with IOC president Jacques Rogge and a chance to address more than 90 IOC members at a key meeting Wednesday for Chicago's bid campaign.

May 9th, 2009 Chair of IOC evaluation team to return to MadridMADRID — The head of the International Olympic Committee team evaluating Madrid's 2016 bid will return to the city late Thursday, a day after leaving for government business in Morocco. Nawal el Moutawakel left the IOC evaluation commission meetings on Wednesday and traveled to Morocco, where she is sports minister, after King Mohammed VI called a meeting of the council of ministers.

May 1st, 2009 Chicago 2016 reiterates Obama support for gamesMILAN — The leaders of Chicago's 2016 Olympic effort promised unprecedented political support for their bid, once again underlining the backing of President Barack Obama. Speaking at an international sports media convention, Chicago 2016 vice chairman Mike Roberts said Obama is a key component in securing the first U.S.

April 19th, 2009 Chair of IOC panel praises Tokyo 2016 bidTOKYO — The chairwoman of the International Olympic Committee's evaluation commission on Sunday said its members were "most impressed" by Tokyo's bid to host the 2016 Summer Games. Nawal el Moutawakel praised the city's vision, concept and high quality presentation, while at a news conference marking the end of the IOC team's four-day inspection of Tokyo.