Chicago Area Local News

COPENHAGEN (CBS) ― At their first Copenhagen news conference Tuesday morning, Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago 2016 Chairman Pat Ryan wasted no time in starting their pitch. CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports.

Ryan said Copenhagen "reminds us a lot of Chicago. Chicago is obviously a world class city, and we're looking to convince 51 percent at least of the voters that that's the case."

The backdrop of the fight to the finish between the top candidates is a postcard-perfect Scandinavian capital; with people as likely to commute by bicycle as cars; where new sources of energy are found blowing in the wind; and where Pat Ryan revealed just how Chicago's newest confirmed presenter will be used.

President Obama will conclude the presentation.

"He's writing his own speech, but we know generally what he's going to say. It's going to be good. It's always good," Ryan said.

The team had rehearsed all weekend, apparently not knowing for sure that the president would be going to Copenhagen.

When asked if the president took some time away from Mayor Daley's presentation, Daley said, "He can take as much time as he wants."

A poll by the Chicago Tribune earlier this month concluded that only 47 percent of Chicagoans supported the 2016 bid, while 45 percent were against them.

But Ryan said a new poll commissioned by Chicago 2016 now says 72 percent of Chicagoans and 82 percent of Americans support Chicago's bid for the games.

"We're honored and humbled to have that tremendous support from the people of Chicago and the people of the United States," Ryan said.

Ryan called the new poll "a very good sampling, just short of 1,000 people."

Afterward, Mayor Richard M. Daley looked forward to the possible opportunity to showcase Chicago.

"We are working as hard all the way up to the decision on Friday, and of course, from my perspective, this has been a great journey for the people of the City of Chicago," he said.

He said the Olympic plan was "fiscally responsible" and without risk to taxpayers.

Earlier in the day, Rio de Janeiro bid leader Carlos Guzman told reporters that President Barack Obama's decision Monday to come to Copenhagen for the final Chicago pitch "changes nothing, absolutely nothing."

In some recent estimates, Rio has been considered a slight frontrunner over Chicago.

When Levine asked Ryan about the statement, he firmly disagreed.

"It obviously changes many things. The president is coming into the country. People are very excited about that," Ryan said. "Whether it impacts the race, we don't know."

Though another Olympic veteran considered it significant.

"It's hard to say whether he tips it for us, but I do know he has a positive impact," said Bill Scherr.

Daley and Ryan would rather have talked about their plan for the Games, the venues, how close they are to the proposed Olympic Village and McCormick Place, rather than talk about the politics surrounding the final vote.

"We want the bid, and the way we put the bid together is first and foremost an interest in the Olympians and Paralympians in their venues, those are really important, and the closeness of it," Daley said.

"We're far from the finish line, but we're in full sprint coming out of a marathon run. We're in full sprint through the finish line, and our team has committed to sprint all the way through," Ryan said. "We're ready to go, we're going to do our best, and we're not leaving any part of our game on the field."

But all is not as serene as the quiet ponds of Copenhagen imply.

Rio claimed Tuesday there was an ethics investigation underway about comments Mayor Daley made about it last week. Though there's no shortage of proof on the Internet about Rio's comments on Chicago.

Chicago refused to comment on another report about collusion between the Rio and Madrid bids.

It's clear that Chicago and Rio are still smiling, but it's also clear that the race is becoming quite heated as the final vote approaches.

The plane carrying the Chicago Olympic delegation landed around 5 a.m. Chicago time.

CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports the plane landed uneventfully to the sound of cheering passengers. Local media were there to greet the plane around noon local time.

The first official act was a group picture with Chicago First Lady Maggie Daley front and center, as more than 100 Olympic athletes and other delegates posed in blue jackets and orange t-shirts -- the colors of their hometown Chicago Bears.

Afterward, they took buses to downtown Copenhagen.

The Chicago bid team has been asked to go around the city and be as visible as possible in Copenhagen to show Chicago's spirit.

But while many members of the bid team may be seen around town in Copenhagen, Daley and Ryan will not. They will be busy talking with International Olympic Committee members and doing a lot of lobbying.

Afterward, there will be numerous events. The World Sports Chicago organization, which was founded to foster the development of inner city children with Olympic aspirations, will be visiting a similar Danish organization as the week goes on.

It will be a very busy week in front of the cameras, as well as behind the scenes.

On Monday evening, Chicago's First Lady Maggie Daley led the planeload of officials, volunteers and media onto the aircraft.

"It's been an amazing journey and we're going to have a happy ending," she said.

United Airlines pulled out all the stops, with special check-in areas for about 250 athletes, supporters and reporters. CBS 2 photographer John Marschitz will join Chief Correspondent Jay Levine to cover the events in Copenhagen, culminating in Friday's vote to decide whether Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid or Tokyo will be the 2016 host city.

Some former Olympians are on the flight too, including Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

"It's almost like you're getting ready to perform the night before. Now you've done all the work. Now it's time to just execute, and execute in hopes of winning that bid," she told Levine.

The week got off to quite a start, with news that President Obama would travel to Copenhagen on Thursday and deliver the closing remarks for Chicago's final presentation on Friday.

Also attending on the national front are U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Oprah Winfrey is also attending.

There will be plenty to see this week in Copenhagen after the plane touches down, but it's what the public won't see that everything will hinge on. Members of the bid team, including Mayor Daley, Chicago 2016 CEO Pat Ryan, President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama all involved in meetings with Olympic delegates. They will be trying to convince the International Olympic Committee that the time is right and the place is right for Chicago 2016.

A representative of "No Games Chicago" said that they had three delegates also leaving for Copenhagen Monday night to voice their opposition to bringing the 2016 Olympics to Chicago.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Editor's Picks

• Real Or Fake?
• Celebs Who Lean To The Right
• Top 10 Smartest And Dumbest Dog Breeds
• World's Most Useless Facts