Chicago hoping for Obama booster in Olympics bid

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — Should Barack Obama win the US presidential election it would be a huge plus for Chicago's bid to win the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, its bid chief told AFP.

Pat Ryan said that both Obama and his Republican rival John McCain were supporting the bid as indeed had President George W Bush and his father former president George Bush.

However, Ryan admitted that being a senator for Illinois Obama could not but help if he were elected in November to succeed the younger Bush.

"All the presidential candidates supported our bid," Ryan told AFP.

"Obviously if you have a hometown kid as president it has its advantages.

"In fact Senator Obama lives three blocks from what would be the main stadium," added Ryan.

However,...