Chicago’s Olympic bid is set to get a presidential push.
The First Family will host a reception for Olympians and Paralympians at the White House next Wednesday in a blatant attempt to pump up the US bid.
The Obamas are hosting the event jointly at the White House with Chicago 2016, the city's bid committee, said a White House official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made.
The president also plans to send Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett to Copenhagen in advance of the October 2 vote on a host city. Jarrett worked on the Olympic bid in Chicago before taking her White House post.
It’s still unclear if the president will travel to Denmark on Chicago’s behalf, but there is a good chance that he will if his presence will move the needle, Lynn Sweet reports in the Sun-Times.
Obama has always had Chicago’s back for the Olympics push. In July he recorded a video message appealing to International Olympic Committee members. In June the White House announced creation of a new White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport, which is hosting next week's event.
