Oprah Winfrey to join Chicago's Olympic bid team in Denmark
COPENHAGEN | Talk queen to schmooze IOC panel in city's final bid for Games
Chicago's queen of talk, Oprah Winfrey, will join the city's Olympic bid team in Denmark next week to help the city in its final lap in the competition to win the 2016 Summer Games.
Winfrey had said earlier she would go to Copenhagen if necessary -- and Wednesday, she confirmed she'll definitely be there.
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)
"I love and believe in Chicago, and I think it would be the perfect host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games,'' Winfrey said in a statement released by Chicago 2016.
Winfrey is expected to do what she does best: chat it up with members of the International Olympic Committee that ultimately will decide which city will host the Games. Chicago is competing with Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid.
That means she'll be attending dinners, cocktail parties and other gatherings with the 106 IOC members.
She isn't expected, however, to stand with first lady Michelle Obama, Mayor Daley and others as they give a final, formal presentation to the IOC on Oct. 2 -- the same day the Olympic governing body is expected to select the winning city.
"We're ecstatic to have a global Chicago icon coming to Copenhagen to help communicate why Chicago would be the best city for the Games in 2016,'' Chicago 2016 spokesman Patrick Sandusky said.
Winfrey has been a cheerleader for Chicago in general and the city's 2016 Olympic bid in particular throughout Daley's three-year Olympic quest.
She showcased Chicago's Olympic bid during her 24th season premiere that closed down a chunk of Michigan Avenue for 2½ days and kicked off her 23rd season by welcoming more than 100 Team USA athletes back from the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.
Oprah also attended a dinner for the International Olympic Committee's site evaluation committee at the Art Institute's new Modern Wing. When she saw a group of protesters outside, she was quoted as saying, "I don't know what's wrong with these people."
The mayor's office was thrilled -- but not surprised -- to hear that Winfrey would make the trip.
"Is there a person alive who doesn't know and respect Oprah?'' said the mayor's spokeswoman, Jacquelyn Heard. "It's a huge boost. She's a person who enjoys international acclaim. There's only a handful of people who can say that."
Winfrey is among a 100-plus-member delegation -- ranging from politicians to athletes -- heading overseas to lobby for Chicago. That includes suburban husband-and-wife gold medal gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner, who are among 26 Olympians and Paralympians also making the trip.