Will Obama’s Victory Help Chicago’s Olympic Bid?

At least one prospective 2016 Olympic city is worried that the election of Chicagoan, Barack Obama as president of the United States will give Chicago an advantage in the selection process. Japanese organizers have reportedly been concerned that all of Chicago’s recent attention from the presidential election will catch the notice of International Olympic Committee (IOC) members. It’s also no secret that President-Elect Obama supports the efforts to host the 2016 Summer Games in his home city. Time will tell.

Chicago and Tokyo are two of four cities in the running to be the 2016 Olympic host city. The others are Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Madrid, Spain. The IOC will choose a winner when it meets next October.

^{(photo of President-Elect Obama and Chief-of-Staff prospect, Rahm Emanuel at a Chicago Olympic rally this summer © Newscom)}