Copenhagen - First Lady Michelle Obama flew into Denmark on Wednesday to lobby on behalf of Chicago as football legend Pele pleaded the case of rivals Rio de Janeiro just 48 hours ahead of the election of the 2016 Olympics host city. The arrival of the Chicago-born Michelle Obama brought Copenhagen's airport to a temporary standstill for security reasons before she headed to the town dressed up for the Olympic meetings.
In what is a busy agenda, Obama will meet with members of the International Olympic Committee and IOC boss Jacques Rogge, join a Chicago 2016 welcome party and have lunch with Denmark's Queen Margrethe.
US President Barack Obama himself is due to arrive on Friday to join Chicago's final presentation before the IOC Session which elects the host later that day.
Obama is the first US president to appear before the IOC members ahead of a host city election, and his presence may sway a few votes in favour of his adopted home town.
After all, then British PM Tony Blair and former Russian president Vladimir Putin were instrumental in bringing the 2012 Games to London and the 2014 winter edition to Sochi, respectively.
"You know how charismatic he is when he wants to express the love for his city," said Rogge recently of Obama.
The presence of heads of state is not required by the IOC but Rogge said the "human chemistry" factor matters when it comes to the final decision.
Chicago's rivals also have supporters in high places. Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia as well as Prime Minister Luiz Rodriquez Zapatero are backing Madrid, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil is up for Rio, and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama for Tokyo.
Most observers believe that the 106 IOC members will have the choice between Obama's charisma and erasing a blank spot on the Olympic map by giving the Olympic Games to South America for the first time via Rio.
Larger-than-life Pele is among other big names supporting bids, and the three-time World Cup winner said an Olympics in Rio could change the life of millions in his country and the region.
"I traveled the world with football. Those who have followed my life saw how sports can change lives. I think this is a big asset for members of the IOC," Pele said on Wednesday.
Pele, 68, also dismissed concerns about a huge overall budget and over hosting the world's two premier sports events within 24 months, with Brazil staging the football World Cup in 2014.
Tokyo, meanwhile, paraded a host of athletes including 2000 marathon Olympic champion Naoko Takahashi and Portuguese running legend Rosa Mota at their media event with bid chief Ichiro Kono naming the mood in the camp "excellent."
But the grey suits and white shirts of the Japanese delegation somewhat highlighted that Tokyo's bid could lack the spark required to get past Rio and Chicago.
