Olympics: Chicago has presidential air, Rio the passion

Agence France-Presse | 11/22/2008 1:46 AM

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ISTANBUL - US President-elect Barack Obama showed his support for the Chicago bid for the 2016 Olympic Games here on Friday with a video declaring victory would help heal the splits between his country and parts of the world that occurred in the eight years of President George W Bush.

The Illinois senator and Chicago resident - the main stadium is just minutes from his home there - declared that the Games would strengthen the Americans friendships across the world.

However, while he was the ace in the Chicago pack in a professional presentation to the European Olympic Committee (EOC) the passion came from a grandstand performance by the Rio de Janeiro bid president and IOC member Carlos Nuzman.

Indeed, Nuzman cheekily stole from Obama's campaign motto that a vote for Rio would be a vote for change for the Olympic movement when they come to vote in Copenhagen next October as it would deliver South America's first ever Olympics.

Tokyo played the symbolic card in that next year would be the centenary of Asia's first IOC member and founder of judo Professor Jigoro Kano.

He ensured Japan became the first Asian country to participate at a Games and that inspired the founder of the modern Olympics Baron Pierre de Coubertin to develop the five rings symbol of the movement.

Madrid, who came close to making it to the final two for the 2012 edition, emphasised on how they were a culturally united city with lots of images of black children with white children, to try to override claims that Spain is racist after several unsavoury incidents mainly at football matches directed at black players.

Obama was at the end of the Chicago presentation - which had also included a saying from Baron de Coubertin about how a Chicago man knew what to achieve in life followed by a video in French - introduced by the long serving city mayor Richard M Daley.

"I believe in the Olympics as we share the same values," said Obama.

"They are friendship, excellence and mutual respect.

"The United States would be honoured to hold the Olympic Games and serve the Olympic movement.

"It would strengthen our friendships across the world," added Obama, who was seated in front of a conservative brown wooden backdrop.

Nuzman, who was instrumental in getting beach volleyball into the Olympic programme, produced a typically fiery Latin performance.

"Rio is a passionate city of beauty, diversity and energy," said Nuzman, whose bid will have to fend off worries over finance and crime.

"The celebrations will flow out into the streets - it will be contagious.

"It will drive the continued social transformation of Rio. 2016 can be an historic decision to bring change which will strengthen our Olympic movement."

Tokyo - who are bidding to host the Games for a second time having held them in 1964 - also played on two crucial elements, strong government support and financial security.

"In the present financial crisis we can promise a responsible budget and financial stability," promised bid chairman Ichiro Kono.

Madrid's presentation was led by IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior - son of legendary former president of the IOC Juan senior - and used the motto 'The Games with a human touch' with a logo of an open hand.

"The open hand is a symbol of our city," said Samaranch junior, whose main problem may be that it would be the third European city in 12 years to host the summer Games after Athens in 2004 and London in 2012.

"It is a city where different cultures can live side by side and in harmony.

"It is a city with the best possible mix of reliability and vitality."

as of 11/22/2008 1:46 AM