Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said he expects the race for the 2016 Olympics to be decided by "a couple of votes" and that Chicago's bid should not hinge on whether Barack Obama goes to Denmark to push his home city's bid.
An IOC meeting in Copenhagen on October 2 will vote by secret ballot and award the 2016 Summer Games to either Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo.
"I see really no favorite," Rogge said yesterday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "I think it's going to be a very close vote. I think the final vote will be decided by a couple of votes only. There is no favorite. There is no bid that is lagging behind. All the scenarios are possible."
Several heads of state will travel to Copenhagen to lobby IOC members including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Crown Prince Naruhito.
Rogge added Chicago's chances will not be harmed if Obama does not travel to Copenhagen: “There is no obligation to come. There is neither a tradition for all the heads of state to come. We wouldn't see that as being negative whatsoever. I'm sure that if a head of state will not be coming, that head of state will definitely make a video presentation or send letters and things like that.” (More)......
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