WSDE Live in Copenhagen ahead of IOC Announcement

In one of the most fiercely-fought campaigns in Olympic history, anticipation has reached fever pitch ahead of today’s announcement to declare the host city for the 2016 Olympics.

World Sport Destination is amongst those at the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen to see Olympic President Jacques Rogge unveil the winning bid.

As the final presentations from Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid take place throughout the day, political manoeuvring and last-minute lobbying is intensifying the competition between all four candidate cities.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said: “Any one of these four cities could deliver a great Olympics - this is probably the highest quality contest there has been.”

Barack Obama’s surprise arrival in Copenhagen has bolstered Chicago’s hopes. The US President is urging the votes to swing towards his hometown of Chicago, saying the U.S. “is ready and eager to assume that sacred trust”.

The U.S. President and his wife, fellow Chicagoan Michelle Obama, and talkshow superstar Oprah Winfrey, put their capital behind an enormous campaign to win the Olympics bid.
“I urge you to choose Chicago,” Obama told members of the International Olympic Committee.

“And if you do - if we walk this path together - then I promise you this: The city of Chicago and the United States of America will make the world proud,” the President said.

Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo have been making their cases to the IOC for more than a year, but many IOC members were thought to be undecided about which city they will vote for later this afternoon.

World Sport Destination Expo Director Chris Frost said: “The atmosphere here in Copenhagen is electric and the stakes have never been higher.  It is probably the most closely fought competition in recent Olympic history and it will all be decided by today’s vital final presentations.”