IOC member from Denmark Kai Holm speaks to reporters at the launch event for the IOC Session and Congress in Copenhagen last October. (ATR)Denmark's former IOC member Kai Holm tells Around the Rings the security costs for the October IOC Session and Congress will clear $3 million if U.S. President Barack Obama visits Copenhagen in support of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics.
“We have a contingency plan if Obama comes in,” he said, adding that the Danish government is handling the security operation and would foot the bill.
Holm told ATR that he's heard that 1,000 people connected to the Chicago bid could descend on the city if Obama decides to make the trip to lobby IOC members ahead of the crucial vote on Oct. 2. Among their number would be Obama's heavily-manned security team, including Secret Service agents, members of the bid set-up and city officials.
Another 700 people associated with Madrid 2016 are also expected to be in Copenhagen for the start of the Session, Holm said.
The Danish budget for staging the Olympic gathering was originally set at about $3.3 million. The IOC is contributing $3.7 to $5.5 million to help run the event.
The 121st IOC Session and 13th Olympic Congress are among more than 50 major international sports events taking place in Denmark's Year of Sport.
Holm insisted preparations were on track for the IOC gatherings. “Everything is in good shape. We haven't got any problems,” he said.
The three largest international sports events in Denmark this year in terms of number of participants and expected media attention are the World Wrestling Championships in Herning, the World Taekwondo Championships and the IOC Session and Congress, both in Copenhagen.
Sport Event Denmark calculates that the events are likely to attract around 1,500 media representatives, 2,000 athletes and 4,000 sports politicians from all over the world, making September and October the busiest event period of the year.
It is estimated that the Danish Year of Sport 2009 will attract 31,170 international visitors, each with an average stay of almost five days.
According to Lars Lundov, chief executive of Sport Event Denmark, the 4,000 IOC Session and Congress delegates are likely to have by far the The Bella Center on the outskirts of the Danish capital hosts the Session and Congress. (ATR)highest daily expenditure. In total, they are expected to spend about $11.7 million during the event period of almost 10 days.
City officials are currently finalizing preparations for the UEFA Congress in March, which will be attended by representatives of the 53 member associations of European football's governing body. It takes place at the Bella Center, the convention complex on the outskirts of the city that is also the setting for the IOC Session and Congress.
The official opening ceremony for the Olympic gathering will be held in the Copenhagen Opera House on the waterside on Oct. 1 with Danish Queen Margrethe in attendance.
IOC members will choose between Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo when they vote on the host city for the 2016 Olympics.
With reporting from Mark Bisson.
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