DECISION 2016: A Chicago election - but with no dirty tricks

CHARLES Merriam, an unsuccessful candidate for Chicago mayor in the early years of the last century, isn't remembered for much - except perhaps this damning and often quoted indictment on local politics.

"Chicago is unique," he said. "It is the only completely corrupt city in America."

CYBERCHAT: It has been claimed the website Chicagansforrio.com can be traced back to Brazil - although Rio 2016 officials deny any involvement

That's probably not a phrase that pays as Chicago 2016 officials put the finishing touches to Friday's presentation to IOC members, which will include a star turn from President Barack Obama.

After Salt Lake City, IOC President Jacques Rogge gets pretty twitchy when dirty tricks or vote rigging is mentioned - even in jest.

And he is always at pains to point out that his 106-strong voting membership can't be treated like Cook County.

New regulations, introduced after the Salt Lake City scandal, have cleaned up the Olympic bidding process, meaning the merest hint of the black arts of politics are not tolerated.

Which means there was a little frisson of excitement after Chicago's bid team initiated a manhunt in cyberspace for the person or persons responsible for the website www.chicagoansforrio.com.

It was claimed the site could be traced to Rio - their bid team immediately and vehemently denied any knowledge of involvement.

Although the long-running activist site - www.nogameschicago.com - has better content, the new website is certainly a professional job - and witty too.

When comparing the respective the most famous monuments of each candidate it states - "Rio has Christ standing, Chicago has Lincoln sitting".

Chicago is piqued because criticism over a lack of government and local support for the bid has been one of the chief concerns of the International Olympic Committees's evaluation commission.

Earlier this week, the Drudge Report alleged that the bid committee had put pressure on a local television station not to run a story that the majority of residents were opposed to staging the Olympics.

President Obama is leading a high-powered delegation to the IOC Session in Copenhagen to persuade members to host the Olympics in the United States for the fifth time (St Louis 1904, Los Angeles 1932/1984, Atlanta 1996).

He will be joined by First Lady Michelle, senior advisor Valerie Jarrett and an all-star cast that includes Oprah Winfrey.

UPDATED: To underline the above, Chicago 2016 have this evening trumpeted a new Zogby poll, which shows widespread local and national support for the bid, writes Sportsbeat’s Gerard Meagher in Copenhagen.

The poll found that 72 per-cent of Chicagoans surveyed want the Games in their city while nationally the figure is slightly higher, 82 per-cent.

The poll was conducted between September 22nd and 25th with more than 700 Chicago-area respondents and 800 national respondents.

“We are gratified by these results and believe this poll reflects the excitement and enthusiasm people have for bringing the Games to Chicago in 2016,” said bid leader Patrick Ryan.

“Moving into the last days of the bid and our final presentation to the International Olympic Committee, we appreciate the continued support, locally and nationally, for our efforts.”

* Follow extensive coverage of the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen, with breaking news reports and analysis from Sportsbeat's James Toney and Gerard Meagher in Copenhagen - www.morethanthegames.co.uk/121st-ioc-session

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