Washington:
US First Lady Michelle Obama would travel to Denmark's capital Copenhagen next month in support of Chicago's historic bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
On October 2, Michelle Obama will attend the 121st International Olympic Committee Session at the Bella Centre - Copenhagen Congress Centre, where the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics will be selected from the remaining four candidate cities: Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
"President Obama informed IOC President Count Jacques Rogge today that the fight to pass health insurance reform keeps him from committing at this time to travel to Copenhagen on October 2, but he will continue to work to support Chicago's bid along with the First Lady and Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to the President, who will accompany the First Lady to Copenhagen," the White House said on Saturday.
"One of the great honours I have as First Lady is to represent America around the world and it is with great pride that I will go to Copenhagen to make the case for the United States to host the 2016 Olympics," the US First Lady said.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Chicago would offer the world a fantastic setting for these historic games and I hope that the Olympic torch will have the chance to burn brightly in my hometown," she said in a statement.
Michelle Obama was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, not far from the suggested locations for the Games.
"As President Obama has said, hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago would be a valuable opportunity for our nation to welcome the world to our shores, and strengthen our friendships across the globe," said Valerie Jarrett.
"I know that it would serve as a beacon of hope and lift the aspirations of so many young people in Chicago, in America and across the world even higher," Jarrett said Chicago's diverse communities and vibrant neighbourhoods, paired with a scenic waterfront, soaring architecture, and innovative technologies and infrastructure would make the city a perfect stage for the 2016 Olympics, the White House argued.
"The city's pledge to encourage the involvement of children through the distribution of over 500,000 tickets to local youth and its commitment to the environment through the Blue Green initiative, reinforce Mrs Obama's belief that the city of Chicago would be the ideal host for these Olympic Games," it said.
On October 2, Michelle Obama will attend the 121st International Olympic Committee Session at the Bella Centre - Copenhagen Congress Centre, where the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics will be selected from the remaining four candidate cities: Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
"President Obama informed IOC President Count Jacques Rogge today that the fight to pass health insurance reform keeps him from committing at this time to travel to Copenhagen on October 2, but he will continue to work to support Chicago's bid along with the First Lady and Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to the President, who will accompany the First Lady to Copenhagen," the White House said on Saturday.
"One of the great honours I have as First Lady is to represent America around the world and it is with great pride that I will go to Copenhagen to make the case for the United States to host the 2016 Olympics," the US First Lady said.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Chicago would offer the world a fantastic setting for these historic games and I hope that the Olympic torch will have the chance to burn brightly in my hometown," she said in a statement.
Michelle Obama was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, not far from the suggested locations for the Games.
"As President Obama has said, hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago would be a valuable opportunity for our nation to welcome the world to our shores, and strengthen our friendships across the globe," said Valerie Jarrett.
"I know that it would serve as a beacon of hope and lift the aspirations of so many young people in Chicago, in America and across the world even higher," Jarrett said Chicago's diverse communities and vibrant neighbourhoods, paired with a scenic waterfront, soaring architecture, and innovative technologies and infrastructure would make the city a perfect stage for the 2016 Olympics, the White House argued.
"The city's pledge to encourage the involvement of children through the distribution of over 500,000 tickets to local youth and its commitment to the environment through the Blue Green initiative, reinforce Mrs Obama's belief that the city of Chicago would be the ideal host for these Olympic Games," it said.
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