Obama Campaigns for His Adopted Hometown

President Obama’s remarks capped a presentation that also included Chicago’s Mayor Richard M. Daley and the first lady, Michelle Obama.

Arriving here after an all-night flight, Mr. Obama swept into a convention hall in the Danish capital, took the lectern and appealed to the International Olympic Committe to choose “that most American of American cities,” the same place that put him on the path to becoming the world’s preeminent leader.

He did not invoke his campaign slogan, “Yes We Can,” but the Chicago bid team consciously echoed it with its own motto, “Together We Can,” repeated in the video shown to the committee. And the president summoned the spirit of his election, reminding them of the emotional crowds in Grant Park celebrating his victory last fall and effectively inviting the rest of the world to validate it by sending him the Games, The New York Times reports.

The New York Times quoted Obama’s Address to the International Olympic Committee, " I come here today as a passionate supporter of the Olympic and Paralympic Games; as a strong believer in the movement they represent; and a proud Chicagoan. But above all, I come as a faithful representative of the American people, and we look forward to welcoming the world to the shores of Lake Michigan and the heartland of our nation in 2016."

"At the beginning of this new century, the nation that has been shaped by people from around the world wants a chance to inspire it once more; to ignite the spirit of possibility at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic movement in a new generation; to offer a stage worthy of the extraordinary talent and dynamism offered by nations joined together — to host games that unite us in noble competition and shared celebration of our limitless potential as a people.

And so I urge you to choose Chicago. I urge you to choose America. And if you do; if we walk this path together; then I promise you this: the city of Chicago and the United States of America will make the world proud," The New York Times reports.

It was also reported, led by President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, Chicago made a heartfelt and, at times, very personal plea for the 2016 Olympics.

Instead of heavy technical details of its bid, Chicago instead tried to take IOC members inside the city and introduce them to its people in its presentation Friday. With videos of children -- including one where kids read personal letters to the IOC -- and capped by the first lady's story of her disabled father, Chicago had what it called a "heartfelt discussion" with the IOC, USA Today reports.