Sep 30, 2009 8:45 am US/Eastern
Mrs. Obama Arrives In Copenhagen For 2016 Pitch
First Lady To Start Pitch To IOC Voters
COPENHAGEN (CBS) ―
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First Lady Michelle Obama arrives in Copenhagen to lead Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid.
CBS
First Lady Michelle Obama landed in Copenhagen Wednesday morning, and is scheduled to meet with International Olympic Committee members during the day.
CBS station WBBM-TV reported Mrs. Obama arrived on an official Air Force plane, and was greeted at the Copenhagen Airport by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and his wife Maggie.
Afterward, she headed to the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen for a courtesy call to the American ambassador.
Her first major appearance will come around 4 p.m. Copenhagen time, when she will make her first visit to the official International Olympic Committee hotel, where IOC voters are staying. But it's not clear how many voters will actually be there, because many will not arrive in Copenhagen until later Wednesday or Thursday.
The official IOC meeting does not begin until Friday morning.
On Wednesday night, Mrs. Obama will mingle with Chicago 2016 Bid Committee members during a welcome reception set up by Daley. Mrs. Obama and Daley will both make speeches at the dinner, as will key members of the 2016 team.
Earlier Wednesday, the Chicago delegation took a run through the streets of Copenhagen. Brazilian soccer great Pelé talked about Michael Jordan's failure to appear in Copenhagen.
Pelé said he would die for his country, and if his country asked him to come for the Olympics, he would do it. He said while Jordan probably has his reasons for not coming, he should have come to Copenhagen for the final pitch.
Also leaving for Copenhagen Wednesday is Gov. Pat Quinn. He is paying for the trip with his own checkbook to help convince the IOC that Chicago is the place to be.
Quinn believes the Olympics will help create jobs around Chicago and the surrounding areas.
When Friday comes around, President Barack Obama will conclude the presentation.
"He's writing his own speech, but we know generally what he's going to say. It's going to be good. It's always good," Chicago 2016 Chairman Pat Ryan said Tuesday.
The final decision about whether Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo will get the 2016 Games will come just before noon Chicago time on Friday.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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