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Our Day is Here
Posted by: John Curran on October 2, 2009 at 7:44AM EST

Good morning friends back home. As you may be just waking up, we have seen much so far today.

Airforce One arrived early this morning and President Obama joined his wife Michelle, Mayor Daley, Pat Ryan and the rest of the presentation team.

We gathered about 200+ delegates here in the Copenhagen Admiral Hotel to watch the action on a live feed from the IOC. Cheers erupted several times as our team expressed our desire to host the Games and why Chicago is the perfect location.

Michelle Obama was very, very good. I think that if this goes our way, she will get a great deal of credit for making such an impassioned presentation. She talked about her childhood and what sports meant to her and her family. Everyone seemed to hang on her every word.

After the presentations, I hopped on a bicycle and rode over to the Parliament Building where a very large crowd of Danes had gathered to catch a glimpse of the Obamas. There was an incredible amount of police presence there including about 60 motorcycle police. Of course, the motorcade passed in a flash and they saw more flashing lights than flashing smiles but they all left with some sense of satisfaction.

We could tell where Obama was this morning because there was a police helicopter above the motorcade and then also the building they were in for the meeting.

Our fingers are crossed. I'm not sure that we know any more than you do at this point about the potential outcome. While we can see the TV coverage here it is in Danish so we can really only see the images.

Now we wait. Perhaps another bike ride is a good idea. Nervous energy well spent! Biking really is the way to see Copenhagen. I have enjoyed it greatly. There are usually nice paths along the roadside.

Everyone seems to ride here. They are in really good physical shape too. When we look at a crowd of Americans back home we see a good deal of obesity. Not here, they are a very fit culture.

We will begin to shuttle over to Axelborg at 4:15 PM and expect the Host City announcement near 6:00 PM. They begin voting at 5:10 PM. There is a big post-decision party planned for tonight and either way we will be part of a fabulous evening.

We are hopeful!

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About This Blog
The Times thought it might be interesting to read about the Chicago 2016 Bid Committee trip to Copenhagen as witnessed by a resident of the region.

Munster resident John Curran travels as part of the Chicago delegation to experience it all first-hand... and hopefully, bring home a winner!

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