First lady pushes her town for Olympics

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- First lady Michelle Obama will head to Denmark next month to lobby Olympics officials to pick Chicago for the 2016 Summer Games, the White House said Friday.

The 121st International Olympic Committee Session will be at the Bella Center -- Copenhagen Congress Center Oct. 2. The participants will choose the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics from the finalists: Chicago, Madrid, Rio De Janeiro and Tokyo.

The president and first lady are working for Chicago's bid, a White House release reported. Chicago is the first lady's home town and the potential Olympic site is on the south side of the city, near where she grew up.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Chicago would offer the world a fantastic setting for these historic games and I hope that the Olympic torch will have the chance to burn brightly in my hometown," she said.

President Obama told IOC President Jacques Rogge he could not attend the session because of the fight to pass healthcare reform legislation, but he continues his support for Chicago.