Olympics-Obama keeps Chicago 2016 bid team guessing

CHICAGO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Organisers of Chicago's bid to stage the 2016 Olympics are still anxiously waiting to know whether United States President Barack Obama will join them in presenting their final pitch.

Obama has enthusiastically pledged his support for his home town's campaign to stage the Games, sending taped messages to International Olympic Committee (IOC) members and agreeing to host a reception for Olympians and Paralympians at the White House next week.

But the president has still not provided an answer to the lingering question of whether he would personally address the IOC when they meet in Copenhagen next month to decide the winner.

"We would love for him to be there and we feel it will make a difference," United States Olympic Committee (USOC) acting chief executive Stephanie Streeter told a media summit on Thursday.

"We've made it clear to him. He's been a supporter of the bid and we'd love to have him there."

The race to host the 2016 Olympics is already looming as one of the tightest yet and USOC officials have made no secret of their belief the president could swing the vote their way.

"I think it would be significant, extremely important and we hope he can join us there to enhance the Chicago 2016 bid," USOC chairman Larry Probst said.

"The USOC, (Chicago) Mayor (Richard) Daley, everyone involved at 2016, we have very clearly communicated to the White House we think his presence would greatly assist the bid.

"That's obviously a decision they need to make in the White House depending on his schedule."

Although heads of state do not get to vote on Olympic hosts, their presence has been viewed as influential in deciding how IOC members have voted in the past and Obama could well be Chicago's big trump card in the final stages of campaigning.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was largely credited with helping London secure the 2012 Summer Olympics while the presence of Russian leader Vladimir Putin was seen as a key reason behind Sochi's successful bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

U.S. officials have stopped short of saying their bid hinges on Obama's appearance but the ongoing speculation over whether the president would lead Chicago's final push has taken on added importance because of the closeness of the race.

Chicago's three rivals, Madrid, Rio and Tokyo, have all been given realistic chances of winning the vote and are expected to bring in their own heads of state to bolster their bids.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Spanish King Juan Carlos have already indicated they will travel to the Danish capital for the Oct. 2 decision while Japan's bid leaders have invited their incoming Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

Chicago were considered the early favourite but disputes between the IOC and USOC over revenue-sharing and attempts to launch an Olympic television network have left the contest wide open.

Without Obama, Chicago may have to count on basketballer Michael Jordan and talk show host Oprah Winfrey to supply the pizzazz, although neither of them have yet indicated whether they will be part of Chicago's official delegation.

(Editing by Julian Linden; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)