Obama guest stars at hometown Olympics rally
In his first hometown appearance since successfully wrapping up his campaign for his party’s presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama said today he was looking forward to 2016 when Chicago will play host to the Olympics and ‘‘I’ll be wrapping up my second term as president.’’
At a Daley Plaza Olympics rally to mark the city making the first cut in the contest to win the right to host the games, the South Side Democrat also noted that his home is only a few blocks from the proposed site of the main Olympic Stadium in Washington Park.
(AP)
“I’m just going to be able to walk over there,’’ said Obama, before adding, however, that he may be living elsewhere — the White House.
“I might have to rent out my house. ... I don’t know,’’ said Obama with a laugh as hundreds of people gathered in the Plaza cheered.
The biggest applause came as Obama spoke about how, as president, he would declare the Games open.
“In the interest of full disclosure, I have to let you know that in 2016, I’ll be wrapping up my second term as president. So I can’t think of a better way than to be marching into Washington Park alongside Mayor Daley ... as president of the United States and announcing to the world, ‘Let the games begin,’’’ said Obama.
Obama said the stop at the rally was a last-minute decision, joining Daley and other dignitaries on the podium.
An Olympics in Chicago “will be a capstone of the success we’ve had over the last couple of decades in transforming Chicago into not just becoming a great American city but a great world city,’’ said Obama. “Not just a city that works but a city that is inspired, a city that is creative, a city that is about change, a city that’s about the 21st century, that reflects the diversity that is the strength of America.”
Daley, noting fellow finalists Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro, said, “We face tough competition.’’
“But what we have here is a spirit,’’ said Daley, who was in Athens, Greece earlier this week for the announcement of the finalists by an International Olympics Committee panel.
Officials raised an Olympics flag on Daley Plaza between the U.S. and Chicago flags and revealed a slightly altered bid logo that adds the words “candidate city” to the existing trademark of a star similar to the ones that adorn the city flag.
Obama will be be allowed to help make the pitch to Olympic officials in 2009, when the IOC will vote for the host.