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Fourth-Place Medal

Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:30 am EDT

Who needs Pres. Obama? Chicago 2016 has Oprah

By Maggie Hendricks

While it's true that Pres. Obama is unlikely to go to Copenhagen to stump for Chicago's Olympic bid, the city has another resident who will be there. She may even carry more influence than the president. Who could that be?

Why, Oprah Winfrey, of course.

Winfrey, who tapes the show at the heart of her empire in Chicago, will head to Copenhagen as part of the Chicago 2016 delegation. She will try to sway the votes of the IOC as they decide between Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Madrid for the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

"I love and believe in Chicago, and I think it would be the perfect Host City for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Winfrey.

With every bid city looking to gain any edge they can, Chicago will have the advantage of a woman who can make an unknown author a best seller or can give an unknown doctor a television show. Winfrey's popularity doesn't stop in the U.S., as her show is syndicated overseas, as well. 

She is part of a team that will include first lady Michelle Obama and 26 former Olympians. That group includes Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, Bob Ctvrtlik, Gary Hall, Jr., Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Nastia Liukin, Edwin Moses and Kerri Walsh. 

This isn't the first time Oprah has shown support for the Olympic movement. After the 2008 Olympics, she hosted a show for the American Olympians in Chicago's Millennium Park.

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13 Comments

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  1. Vote Life
    1. Posted by Vote Life Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:03 pm EDT

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    Where are all the damn jobs already????
  2. Charles F
    2. Posted by Charles F Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:08 pm EDT

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    It wouldnt be chicago without oprah and her puppets
  3. Frank
    3. Posted by Frank Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:29 pm EDT

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    Oprah tries too hard to seem important. She is a puff of smoke, here one second, gone the next.
  4. ginevg
    4. Posted by ginevg Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:42 pm EDT

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    I do not see an Olympian coming out of her!
  5. duane t
    5. Posted by duane t Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

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    What are you kidding? The athletes will get passed on the track by thugs running from the cops.No one will know if the shot was the starting gun or a drive by. Lets hope we dont have to live that down.
  6. TT
    6. Posted by TT Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    #5 - lol
  7. Ed
    7. Posted by Ed Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    #5 - lol
  8. Ed
    8. Posted by Ed Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    Olympics in Chicago!? We are already having a hard time with the economy and to start impoving things and building things just for the games! Don't get me wrong I love the Olympic games, but I also love my country and would rather see it get back on track financially than to go and spend millions of dollars on things that will only be used for 2 weeks.
    Then we will try to beat the Chinese for what they did last year, so there goes more money. I just don't think it would be a good idea.
    Maybe Opera can fund the games. Why not? She has almost as much money as the government!
  9. Jeromebettisthebus
    9. Posted by Jeromebettisthebus Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    Oh yeah.....Oprah is such a puff a smoke. Here one second gone the next right. I wish I could be such a puff a smoke for 25 PLUS YEARS and countless Emmys and an Academy Award Nomination. Not to mention all the charity that she has done. Haters kill me sometime. Oprah is doing this because she wants to. If she was selfish she would just say at home and say FU!
  10. Trey
    10. Posted by Trey Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    I think it is funny how if Oprah says something, the entire world pays attention, or atleast the entire female population does. Can't say I have ever given 2 craps about anything she has said, but she wields a magic wand that everyone seems to bow to her every wish...now that is power! She will probably even have the Antichrist following her lol. Btw, #5 was friggin hilarious :)
  11. Bearsfan7
    11. Posted by Bearsfan7 Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:21 pm EDT

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    Oprah has little if no influence on any other culture than here is the US. No need for her to show. Unless we really don't want the olympics.
  12. Staubach Rules
    12. Posted by Staubach Rules Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:47 pm EDT

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    opera Winfreeee is a moose T34t
  13. Staubach Rules
    13. Posted by Staubach Rules Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:48 pm EDT

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    i listen to Chuck Norris only

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