President Obama Hosts Event for Olympics to Promote 2016 Campaign

Late last week, it was reported that First Lady Michelle Obama would be traveling to Copenhagen to campaign for Chicago as the optimal destination for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Earlier today, President Barack Obama did his part to campaign for Chicago's upcoming Olympic bid by hosting an event for past Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

While President Obama will be unable to attend the event in Copenhagen, Denmark next month due to the ongoing health care reform debate, he expressed his desire to have the Summer Olympics return to the United States for the first time since the 1996 Summer Games were held in Atlanta.

In a speech that President Obama gave to promote Chicago as the optimal location for the 2016 Summer Games, he said, "It's a city of broad shoulders and big hearts and bold dreams; a city of legendary sports figures, legendary sports venues, and legendary sports fans; a city like America itself, where the world's races and religions and nationalities come together and reach for the dream that brought them here."

The USA Today is reporting that President Obama concluded his speech by saying, "Chicago is ready. The American people are ready. We want these Games." The official announcement that will determine the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics is scheduled to be made on October 2nd at the 121st International Olympic Committee Session.