PAUL WOODY COLUMN: Olympic bid needs the president

The Olympics are the greatest of the world's sports events, and the site for the 2016 Summer Games will be Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo.

The International Olympic Committee votes Friday.

The vote here is for Chicago.

Imagine athletes from every part of the globe riding the 'L' in Chicago.

Imagine mixing and mingling on Michigan Avenue with high jumpers from Australia and hammer throwers from the Ukraine.

Imagine standing in Grant Park and watching the yacht races on Lake Michigan.

Imagine the focus of the world being on Chicago and its suburbs in the summer of 2016.

This is not a partisan issue. This is an American sports issue.

So, if President Obama wants to go to Denmark to make the pitch to the IOC for America's heartland, he should go.

How can anyone be opposed?

Of course, this is America, the land of the polarized, and I'm not talking about sunglasses.

It's difficult for an elected official to do anything without being accused of playing politics or wasting tax dollars.

For once, we need to dispense with such negative discourse.

We're talking the Summer Games. What sporting event is better than the Summer Games?

Remember the 2008 Games? Remember how the world watched to see what Michael Phelps would accomplish in the pool?

Remember the awe inspired by the speed of Usain Bolt in the 100and 200-meter dashes?

How can anyone not want that to take place in the United States?

And speaking of politics, no sports governing body is more political than the IOC.

The heads of state from Brazil, Spain and Japan will be in Copenhagen.

No matter how you feel about Obama, almost everyone agrees the man is a persuasive speaker.

Initially, Obama did not plan to go. His wife was to be the primary emissary for the United States.

Michelle Obama is a capable spokeswoman well-versed in the art of politicking. But something this significant demands the presence of the president.

Critics have said the president has more pressing issues to consider - health care reform and the war in Afghanistan among them.

True. But the president must juggle multiple issues each day.

President Obama will leave tomorrow night, spend Friday in Copenhagen and return Friday night.

It's not as if his participation in the bid process requires him to drop everything and focus on the venue for the field hockey matches.

He can go to Copenhagen and still work on health-care reform and Afghanistan.

And let's remember there is a potential local component in the 2016 Olympics.

If the proposed SportsQuest complex comes to fruition in Chesterfield County, Olympic athletes will be developed here.

Olympic teams almost certainly will train here on their way to Chicago.

But few will come if the Games are held in Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo.

Barack Obama is going to Copenhagen to lobby the IOC, and there is but one thing to say.

Excellent move, Mr. President.

Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444