White House sends team to Copenhagen, where 2016 summer Olympics host city will be chosen

White House sends team to Olympic meeting site

WASHINGTON — The White House is sending an advance team to Copenhagen, Denmark, to make preparations in case President Barack Obama decides to attend the International Olympic Committee’s meeting there next month, an administration official says.

The committee will choose a host city for the 2016 summer Olympics during the Oct. 2 meeting. Obama’s hometown of Chicago is a finalist, but the president has said he can’t commit to attending the meeting because of the health care reform debate in the U.S.

First lady Michelle Obama, a Chicago native, will attend and make a presentation to the committee.

The White House official spoke on background because a final decision has not yet been made on the president’s plans.