Chicago banks on Obama, Tokyo eyes cost in 2016 bids

By Mark Meadows

MILAN (Reuters) - Chicago used the popularity of U.S. President and former city resident Barack Obama to try to boost their 2016 Olympic bid on Friday, tweaking his famous slogan and stating "Yes we will."

Competition between Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid is hotting up ahead of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) naming the host city in Copenhagen on October 2.

The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) congress in Milan was a rare chance for the four cities to give presentations one after another, with favorites Chicago keen to show Obama has heavily backed the bid.

"With Mayor Richard Daley in City Hall and Obama in the White House, we have the highest ever political support for an Olympic bid," bid vice president Mike Roberts told the congress.

"Obama is committed to bringing the Games back to the U.S. He's created an Olympic office in the White House."

COST-EFFECTIVE GAMES

Obama, whose presidential campaign slogan was "Yes we can," held a rally on the night of his election victory in the lakeside park area which will be the fulcrum of a Chicago Games.

"We had 'Yes we can'. We are taking it one step further - 'Yes we will'," said bid president Pat Ryan.

Chicago's team have been criticized in the past for not giving detailed financial projections and they again concentrated on Obama-mania rather than figures.

In contrast Tokyo focused on staging a cost-effective Games given the global recession, saying the bid had already secured funding of $4 billion to more than cover the event.

"Tokyo is taking full advantage of existing venues. No expensive construction will be required," said their 2016 executive board member Yuko Arakida.

Rio, hosting the IOC Evaluation Committee at the moment, highlighted the city's party atmosphere, government support and the hosting of the 2007 Pan American Games as reasons why they would hold a successful Olympics.

Worries the 2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil would hamper work on 2016 were rejected, with the benefits of joint-planning emphasized instead.

Madrid's delegation said the legacy of the Barcelona 1992 Games and the Mediterranean climate made their bid the best.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)