Oprah Winfrey heads to Denmark next week. (Getty Images)(ATR) Chicago 2016 confirms a five-letter name that starts with "O" for the IOC Session in Copenhagen, but it's not Obama.
Oprah Winfrey, the talk-show host and media megastar from Chicago, will travel to Copenhagen as part of the 60-member official bid delegation.
However, Winfrey may not be part of the team making the final presentation to IOC members on Oct. 2 prior to the vote. Chicago 2016 has not disclosed the members of its stage team for competitive reasons.
First Lady Michelle Obama will lead the Chicago delegation, while President Barack Obama has not closed the door on a possible appearance in Copenhagen.
Winfrey told bid officials earlier this month that she would travel to Copenhagen if needed, and apparently she was needed for the final push.
"I love and believe in Chicago, and I think it would be the perfect Host City for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games," she said in a statement.
In April, Winfrey attended the City Night event honoring the IOC Evaluation Commission and sat next to chair Nawal El Moutawakel of Morocco during the dinner. She has also hosted the U.S. Olympic team on her television show.
Winfrey said during the Evaluation Commission visit that the Olympics mean new jobs, new facilities and excitement for her hometown.
"I think it means a kind of stimulation and energy for the city that we've never even experienced," she told reporters. "I also think it's one of the greatest cities in the world. I've said that for a long time, not because of what it has meant to me personally, but what it means to everybody who lives here.
"What I'm hoping is we can all have a real honest conversation about what a great city this is and the possibilities it will bring, not only for the citizens of Chicago, but for the citizens of the world."
Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016, said in a statement, "We are very honored and excited to have Oprah Winfrey travel to Copenhagen. As a member of our community and as someone who understands and demonstrates the value of helping others, she embodies the spirit of so many Chicagoans and is truly an emissary for our bid and for the city of Chicago."
Written by
Karen Rosen,
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