Obama "our quarterback" to win Olympic bid for Chicago: Daley

Chicago, Mar 29 (ANI): Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has declared President Barack Obama "our quarterback" who will help bring the Olympic Games to the city.

Daley fresh from a Denver trip to promote the Chicago's Olympic bid, said, "This is the United States of America, and the person who's our quarterback is President Barack Obama."

"He is the one who will go to Copenhagen" to present the city's final pitch to the International Olympic Committee in October, The Chicago Sun Times quoted him, as saying.

Daley noted that Russian leader Vladimir Putin pushed successfully to bring the 2014 Winter Games to Sochi, while former British Prime Minister Tony Blair spent three days in Singapore with IOC members to win the 2012 Summer Games for London.

Chicago is competing for the 2016 Olympics against Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid. All three have national government guarantees backing the entire costs of their bids, unlike Chicago.

However, IOC President Jacques Rogge said on Friday that Chicago doesn't necessarily need full government guarantees. He said the bottom line is a strong guarantee and that he is "quite sure Chicago is able to deliver."

Daley said Rogge's remarks were encouraging and improves the city's chances. (ANI)