Obama could be used as trump card for Chicago's Olympic bid

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Chicago, Feb.15 (ANI): President Barack Obama may be used as a trump card by Chicagoans to convince the IOC to allow the city to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

While the Chicago 2016 organizers are reluctant to publicly put too much stake in Obama's perceived global magnetism, some observers see the president as a trump card.

Officials say that the cost of 2016 Olympics would be 4.8 billion dollars

The bid books issued by the four cities competing for the Summer Games-Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo-are blueprints, not binding contracts, said Ed Hula, publisher of the Web site aroundtherings.com, which covers the business of the Olympics.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, the books are mainly guides for the IOC evaluation group that will visit Chicago in April.

That group will issue a report to the other 100 or so IOC voting members. Most IOC voting members won't wade through the entire three-volume, 500-plus-page bid book.

More than bid books, hosting the Olympics is largely won by relationships and wooing, Hula said.

Chicago organizers are hoping the president will help in that regard by going to Copenhagen in October to make the city's final pitch to the International Olympic Committee.

The competing cities are aware-and seem to be somewhat defensive about-a possible Obama edge. (ANI)