My Kind of Town

Chicago, Oprah, and the Obama's have been all over the news this week in Copenhagen during the 121st IOC Session for the 2016 Olympics. It has been a fantastic experience as an American and former Chicagoan to witness the excitement of the Danes because of their presence in the country's capital. I have never felt more proud of where I come from, or missed home more.

The hype started when The First Lady landed on Wednesday to support the Chicago bid for 2016 host city, alongside Mayor Daley. It continued when Oprah was seen in the streets and in Danish homes filming a show about why the Danes are "The Happiest People on Earth." Her primary objective was to be here to support the bid, but leave it to "the talk show queen" as she has been called in Demark, to make a show out of it as well.

The tipping point for all the hype happened this morning when Danish TV cameras were aimed at the sky from 6am on waiting for President Obama's arrival. He landed on Danish soil nearly two hours later and the cameras and the rest of Denmark witnessed his every move during his short, but influential five hour visit. It was an amazing spectacle to experience. Denmark loves him too!

While Barack kept the media busy, Michelle stole the show during the 50 minute presentation on Chicago. She tugged on the heart strings of everyone watching by mentioning how the Olympic games would be held not far from where she grew up and how her father would be so proud to see what his city has become. Her grace and conviction was so overwhelming that when The President took the podium it took a minute to focus on the man of the hour. Obama told us how he moved around a lot as a boy but chose to plant roots in Chicago. He believes the city of big shoulders has the strength and diversity to bring people together and make the world proud.

In the end it was South America's turn to dazzle the world with the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. A day later and an IOC Olympic bid short, Obama and Chicago are still in the Danish news. Whether it's because those words jump out at me as an American or whether they are the only words I understand is hard to tell. One thing is for certain. Chicago was the crowd favorite in Copenhagen.