Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., was a late add-on to the traveling team accompanying President Barack Obama on Air Force One to Copenhagen to pitch for a Chicago Olympics. The flight left Washington on Thursday night and was set to arrive in Denmark overnight.
Durbin, the assistant Senate majority leader, said White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel had been reluctant for the president to make the trip.
The senator said Emanuel told him that Obama’s busy schedule, coupled with health care legislation being unresolved, made him skeptical about the Copenhagen venture.
“He didn’t want to miss a chance to help pass health care reform,” Durbin said of Emanuel, adding: “It was the only thing holding him back.”
When it became clear the full Senate would not vote on health care this week, Emanuel’s objections eased, Durbin said.
“The president is leaving for a very brief, overnight trip,” Durbin said. While Obama is flying to Denmark, Durbin added, “the great minds of health care reform” will be sleeping.
— Peter Nicholas and Katherine Skiba
Republicans criticize, Emanuel chides
Rahm Emanuel, the president’s chief of staff, had a response Thursday for Republicans criticizing President Barack Obama’s quick trip to Copenhagen.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri and House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio all have questioned the president’s priorities.
Emanuel told ABC News: “You know, we’ll make sure they get some good seats once Chicago does host the games.”
— Mark Silva
Michael Jordan has a stand-in: Quinn
In Copenhagen, Chicago 2016 supporters shot hoops with local youths in the brisk afternoon air. Gov. Pat Quinn got into the mix, wearing shorts and a T-shirt.
“Michael Jordan may not be here, but his spirit is here,” Quinn said.
— Kathy Bergen
Even bike ride reflects rivalries
Undaunted by intermittent rain, supporters of the bid cities joined an 8K bike ride. Chicago’s contingent included Mayor Richard Daley’s brother, Bill Daley.
The group chanted “Chi-ca-go” for TV cameras. Preceding them was Rio’s group, which sang a rousing version of “Cidade Maravilhosa,” or “The Marvelous City.”
— Kathy Bergen
Athletes are moved by spirit of games
On the day before the Olympic vote, a couple of athletes who have been with Chicago’s bid since its inception, Linda Mastandrea and Mike Conley, were overcome with emotion at a Copenhagen news conference.
Paralympian Mastandrea, speaking from her wheelchair, cried as she described how her life story differed from the two dozen Olympians standing behind her.
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Mastandrea noted how many of the other athletes had been inspired to become Olympians after seeing the games on television.
“I watched and was thinking, ‘I can’t be an Olympian because I have a disability,'” she said. “I never once thought, ‘I can be an athlete.'”
That changed when Mastandrea arrived at the University of Illinois and met Paralympian Ann Cody, who introduced her to the university’s extensive disabled sports program.
“I was finding a part of myself,” Mastandrea said.
She went on to compete in the 1992 and ’96 Paralympics.
Conley, the 1992 Olympic triple jump champion from Luther South High School, found his voice cracking as he talked, having been moved by Mastandrea’s words.
“Thank you, Linda, for getting me all choked up before I speak,” Conley said.
— Philip Hersh
– – –
4 ups and 4 downs on 4 cities
CHICAGO
Four positives
1. Obama provides multicultural star power
2. Geographically compact plan for games, with beautiful lakefront as backdrop
3. Selection of U.S. would mean more TV dollars for IOC
4. Olympics could anoint U.S. city that has never hosted the games
Four negatives
1. Financial guarantees were a muddle for months
2. Public support is less impressive than in some rival cities
3. History of public corruption
4. United States? Again? (U.S. has hosted eight Olympics)
RIO de JANEIRO
Four positives
1. Games have never been held in South America
2. Beautiful vistas, especially beaches
3. Rio, with its carnival atmosphere, recently rated “happiest city in the world”
4. 2014 World Cup would help Rio get ready for 2016 Olympics
Four negatives
1. 2014 World Cup would compete with 2016 Olympics for sponsorship dollars
2. Shortage of hotel rooms (cruise ships would house some visitors)
3. Lack of Olympics experience
4. Violent crime is major concern
TOKYO
Four positives
1. Most venues already built, and financial plans are rock solid
2. Crime is a virtual nonfactor
3. Superior public transportation
4. Emphasis on environmental “green games”
Four negatives
1. Public support not overwhelming, and government just changed
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2. Asia? Again? (Beijing hosted 2008 Summer Games)
3. Tokyo? Again? (City hosted 1964 Games)
4. IOC concerned about Olympic Village size and location near fish market
MADRID
Four positives
1. Most venues already built, and financial underpinnings strong
2. Former IOC President Juan Samaranch Sr. is big backer
3. Transportation system impressive
4. Emphasis on environmental “green games”
Four negatives
1. IOC report found leadership structure unclear
2. Europe? Again? (London will host 2012 Games)
3. Madrid clinics were raided in cycling doping scandal in 2006
4. Madrid official’s recent criticism of Rio’s bid may annoy some voters
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