Mayor of Chicago: First Lady stole the show

From Gerard Meagher, Sportsbeat, in Copenhagen

MAYOR of Chicago Richard M Daley believes Michelle Obama's heartfelt speech stole the show in their presentation to the IOC to bid for the 2016 Olympics - upstaging even her husband.

SHOW STOPPER: Chicago mayor Richard Daley and US President Barack Obama during the Chicago 2016 presentation. But Daley later claimed the First Lady was the star.

The First Lady, born and raised in Chicago, gave an inspiring speech regarding her childhood and the impact that sport had on her as a child in her south side community.

She also spoke at length about her late father, who contracted Multiple Sclerosis, ensuring the Paralympic Games has added significance for her.

President Obama's most telling contribution was to step in when Pakistan's IOC member Syed Shahid Ali pulled no punches in his questioning with regards to foreigners' experiences in the USA.

He stepped up to the plate to field the question, exclaiming ‘America is at its best when it's open to the world' after another member of the bid team had sidestepped the issue.

But Daley believes it was the emotive and passionate nature of Michelle Obama's speech that exemplified Chicago's bid.  

"The confidence and the passion and the commitment we have is fantastic," he said. "And the story by Michelle Obama about her childhood was inspirational.

"We want to bring a better way of life not just to our children but for all of the youth across American and across the rest of the world.

"Chicago is all about family and immigrants and people coming to Chicago for a better way of kife - and that's what it's all about, even today.

"At the same time it's about family and community and that's why it was very emotional and very passionate.

"President and Michelle have their own way of making presentations and it does not just come from their lips, it comes from their heart.

 "When we were up there it was not just the words we were saying but it was the passion. There was a story to be told and they all told there's with great passion."

Meanwhile, Chicago 2016 CEO Patrick Ryan admitted his relief the presentation was finally over and expressed his belief that his team have done enough to secure victory.

"We think that we made the case that we are a committed partner to work on delivering the best games that could ever possibly be imagined," he added.

"We want to help strengthen the Olympic movement in everything we do."

DECISION 2016: Sportsbeat's James Toney and Gerard Meagher live blog from the 2016 host city election in Copenhagen