Update

Obamas' Olympic Bid for Chicago Fails

10/02/2009 at 11:50 AM EDT

President Barack Obama and wife Michelle's efforts to land the 2016 Olympics for Chicago have failed: The city was eliminated in the first round of voting to determine where the Summer Games will be held.

On Friday it was announced that Rio de Janeiro – long thought to be the front-runner – would host the Olympics, the first time any city in South America got the Games.

The President and his wife had both lobbied Olympic leaders in Copenhagen to give the global event to their hometown. "I urge you to choose Chicago," the President told members of the International Olympic Committee. "And if you do – if we walk this path together – then I promise you this: The city of Chicago and the United States of America will make the world proud."

PHOTO: Oprah Winfrey lends an ear to First Lady Michelle Obama

That Chicago was eliminated in the first round came as a surprise to many. Tokyo was eliminated in the second round. Also in the running was Madrid.
– Marla Lehner