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Obama drums up support for Chicago Olympic bid
(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2009-09-17 13:19

Obama drums up support for Chicago Olympic bid
US President Barack Obama shows off his fencing skills during an event on Olympics, Paralympics and youth sport on the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday. [Xinhua] 
Obama drums up support for Chicago Olympic bid

The president said that while he loves Washington, Chicago has been his home for nearly 25 years. He called it a "city of broad shoulders and big hearts and bold dreams, a city of legendary sports figures, legendary sports venues, and legendary sports fans."

After his remarks, the president shed his suit jacket and watched as athletes demonstrated judo, fencing and gymnastics.

"Oh! That's what I'm talking about!" he exclaimed after a skillful judo move. "Nice, nice, nice," he said at another point.

Over at the fencing demonstration, he picked up a foam sword and playfully demonstrated the skill that his wife had joked about.

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Joining Obama for the event were Chicago Mayor Richard Daley as well as Olympic greats such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee, a three-time gold medalist from Illinois.

In a brief interview, Joyner-Kersee, a supporter of Chicago's bid from the start, said the athletes did not try to persuade Obama to make the trip to Copenhagen.

"I think it is so important to respect the president, and what he's doing right now," citing Obama's commitment to health care reform. "It's not only respect to him but also to this country."

After meeting with the Illinois congressional delegation earlier in the day, Daley told reporters that given all the problems the US faces, it is understandable if Obama does not go to Denmark for the IOC meeting.

"I think if there is ever a possibility of coming he would," the mayor said, adding that the president has already been helpful by talking to various heads of state about the Chicago bid.

Daley said he considers Chicago's chances for winning the bid to be even with the three remaining rivals.

He also highlighted the reception that Rep. Bobby Rush, an Illinois Democrat, has planned Thursday evening with African ambassadors. "These 17 African nations are really the swing votes" with the IOC, Daley said.