Chicago odds on for 2016 Olympics, but the bookies have been wrong before

 IT appears the looming presence of Mr President has the bookies trembling at the knees as Chicago are currently odds on to land the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The Windy City has tended to be many bookies' favourites for some considerable time but with just a week to go until D-Day in Copenhagen, they seem to have taken a Jack the Ripper-like slashing.

Those wanting to have a punt can get just 8/11 on Chicago ending the USA's 20-year Olympic barren spell with Bet365 and Boylesports.

And those odds will be cut to ribbons should Barack Obama fire up the engines on Air Force One next Friday.

But, God forbid, the bookmakers could have it wrong - after all they were stung when London upstaged Paris in 2005.

And if so, Bet365 are offering a rather enticing 5/2 on Rio de Janeiro popping South America's Olympic cherry.

There will surely be many among the voting IOC members who fancy the sun-loungers on the Copacabana - especially having had to make do with Clacton-on-Sea prior to London 2012.

Tokyo - the only bidding candidates to have staged the Games before, and in doing so attempting to become only the fifth city to stage the Games twice - is the dark horse in Coral's eyes at 6-1.

But Madrid - despite the implorations of the world's most expensive footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Usain Bolt - languishes around the 8-1 mark, depending on your bookmaker of choice.

Requiring extensive knowledge of the Pythagoras Theory to fathom the voting procedure also ensures forecasts and tri-casts could see a good return on your money.

No odds just yet on whether Pele and Obama will come to blows or why on earth Oprah Winfrey is making the trip but I shall endeavour to unearth them.