Copenhagen- US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama made passionate pleas as Chicago presented its bid for the 2016 Olympics to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday. Less than two hours after arriving in Denmark, Barack Obama told the IOC Session that "Chicago and America will make the world proud" if chosen by the IOC in a secret ballot later in the day.
"I came here as a passionate supporter of the Olympics and Paralympics ... and as a proud Chicagoan," said Obama.
"America is ready and eager to assume that sacred trust."
Michelle Obama was born and raised in Chicago while the "windy city" is the adopted home town of the president.
Chicago pledged perfect conditions for athletes and fans, and a lasting legacy in a 45-minute presentation which had no real spark but concluded with the Obamas.
Michelle Obama talked about her youth in the city, her late father and his love for sports, and what Olympics could do to the city.
"Today I am dreaming of Olympics to light up lives in the US and around the world," she said.
Officials also stressed the ethnic diversity of the city, while Google chairman Eric Schmidt expressed his support via video.
"Together, we can," was the slogan in another video excerpt, drawing on Obama's famous words "Yes, we can."
Obama, the first US president to present an Olympic bid before the IOC, promised that foreigners will have no trouble entering the country, saying the Olympics can be "a reminder that America at its best is open to the world."
Chicago is competing against Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo for the 2016 Games. The other three cities were due to hold their presentations after Chicago, followed by the secret IOC ballot.
IOC president Jacques Rogge was due to announce the winner at 1630 GMT.
Two IOC members were not in Copenhagen. Alpha Ibrahim Diallo of Guinea did not make it, reportedly due to the unrest in his country. Sako Koivu of Finland is absent because he is playing an NHL Game.
As a result, only 103 IOC members are present and 95 voting in the first round of the ballot set for later Friday.
The seven IOC members from the four countries are not allowed to vote in the opening round, South Korean Kun Hee Lee is suspended from the IOC and Rogge does not vote.
President Obama had arrived earlier Friday in the Danish capital, for a whirlwind visit, while Michelle Obama came on Wednesday for some final lobbying.
In addition to his Olympic activities, the president was due to meet Queen Margrethe and Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen before leaving Denmark early Friday afternoon.
Obama is the third US president to visit Denmark in the past 12 years after trips in 1997 by Bill Clinton and 2007 by George W Bush.
