Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid were making pitches to the International Olympic Committee. They faced a crucial test ahead of the October vote on which city hosts the 2016 Summer Games in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday.
![Members of Rio de Janeiro 2016 present their candidature to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members during the third briefing for IOC members on the candidature for the 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic museum in Lausanne June 17, 2009. [CCTV/REUTERS/POOL/Dominic Favre SWITZERLAND SPORT OLYMPICS]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090618/001ec94a1ee40ba42c3a27.jpg "Members of Rio de Janeiro 2016 present their candidature to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members during the third briefing for IOC members on the candidature for the 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic museum in Lausanne June 17, 2009. [CCTV/REUTERS/POOL/Dominic Favre SWITZERLAND SPORT OLYMPICS]") |
|
Members of Rio de Janeiro 2016 present their candidature to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members during the third briefing for IOC members on the candidature for the 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic museum in Lausanne June 17, 2009. [CCTV/REUTERS/POOL/Dominic Favre SWITZERLAND SPORT OLYMPICS]
|
The International Olympic Committee convened for the four bid presentations on Wednesday.
Chicago were the first to present their case. Hours ahead of the presentation, their bid got a boost, when US President Barack Obama announced the formation of a White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport. The permanent office will promote the values of the Olympic movement and encourage increased youth participation in sports.
Pat Ryan, Chairman of Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Comittee, said, "There was a video on that. We are very pleased with that announcement."
Tokyo are the second bidder in front of the IOC members.
The team had just an hour and a half to present their city and preparations to the Olympic body.
Afterwards, the bid team were confident on their financial side.
Shintaro Ishihara, Governor of Tokyo, President of Tokyo 2016, said, "The last ten years we have rehabilitated our fiscal position in Tokyo metropolitan and we have set aside enormous amount of money as a reserve fund for the games."
Next up after lunch was Rio.
South America has never hosted an Olympic games - and the team felt now was the right time for the continent to be awarded the event.
