Olympics 2016

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (CBS) ― Two of the most powerful women in the world were in Copenhagen on Wednesday, pitching for Chicago to get the Summer Games in 2016.

First lady – and top Chicago cheerleader – Michelle Obama got the crowd going at a special Chicago reception. Her friend and entertainment powerhouse Oprah Winfrey introduced Obama and hugged her on stage.

Earlier in the day, Winfrey's international star power was easy to see as she was mobbed on the streets of Copenhagen. Both Obama and Winfrey spoke to CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine about their last minute push to win over voters in an Olympic race that is still too close to call.

She may be Chicago's not-so-secret weapon.

Winfrey was greeted by Mayor Daley and a crowd waiting across the street as she stepped out of a limo in Copenhagen.

Spotting CBS 2 nearby, she came over to talk about why she'd come.

"Well, they just asked that I show up and be friendly, so that's not very hard for me," Winfrey said. "I think we're going to be meeting with some of the delegates tomorrow and have some conversations and tell them how great we are, and why there really is no other choice. But other than that, it really is about just heralding our city, as we all know how great it is. I'm sort of an ambassador."

Winfrey has become part of a team, which includes the first lady who arrived Wednesday and got right to work; and the world's fastest man, eight-time world champion Michael Johnson, who led Chicago 2016's 2.2 mile fun run, organized to take the spirit of Chicago's Olympic bid to the streets of Copenhagen.

Not coincidentally, going right past the hotel where all the IOC voters were staying.

"We're all anxious, and it comes down to the last minute and all of the support and anything you can do to put your city over the top," Johnson said. "We've seen that in the past where there have been other favorites and somebody came up and won the bid."

There were gold medalists galore in the group, including reigning Olympic gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin.

"We're so excited and honored to be here as part of the team, and be able to enjoy this beautiful city," Liukin said. "But we're also hopeful for Chicago. We want this so bad to come back to our country."

Chicago was all over the city Wednesday. Mayor Daley meeting with his Copenhagen counterpart, unveiling the Chicago-inspired 'Cool Globes' climate change project, which will travel to Denmark in November.

It was quite a show in Copenhagen Wednesday night. Two of the best-known women in the world were on the same stage, getting rave reviews. Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama stole the show as they hosted a welcome dinner.

Winfrey had high praise for the first lady as she introduced Mrs. Obama at the Chicago reception. "She volunteered without any hesitation to come forward and lead our team," Winfrey said.

Call it the Oprah-Obama show.

"I said every single city who's bidding wishes they had Oprah on their team and we have her," Obama said.

The first lady had already started courting delegates Wednesday afternoon.

"We've got a lot of work to do. So, we're not taking anything for granted. So I'm going to talk to some voters," Obama said.

You had to smile at the 'Double O' factor. And Chicago's Olympic boosters are hoping the IOC delegates the two meet with Thursday will have the same reaction.

Star power is a big deal in Copenhagen as the four 2016 finalists schmooze for votes; after all, Rio de Janeiro's team includes soccer legend Pelé, who explained why it's Rio's turn.

"We never had it in South America," Pelé said. "Because I think Europe and the United States, coming before at that time Brazil was not prepared, but now Brazil is prepared, South America is prepared."

It was a strong argument and left Chicago 2016 CEO Pat Ryan and company meeting non-stop with voters.

Sir Craig Reedie, a British member of the International Olympic Committee, said a lot of the voters have not made up their minds about the 2016 host city. "Because it is so close. Things develop, things change minute by minute, particularly when you get into an atmosphere like this, with 48 hours to go," Reedie said.

Israel IOC member Alex Gilady said, "This is not unusual because we like to see the presentations on Friday, because this is performance under pressure."

That pressure was building Wednesday night, with the election now just over a day away. Experts in Copenhagen was calling the race too close to call.

The Chicago bid was facing some opposition outside of the other three bid cities. Three members of the group "No Games Chicago" were in Copenhagen as well. They've been blogging about their experiences on their website.

Six people who took part in a protest organized by that group were arrested Tuesday night during a protest at Daley Plaza.

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

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