U.S. President Barack Obama could visit Vancouver Olympics
American ambassador, a friend of the president, makes reference to bringing 'a friend' to Games
By Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
December 3, 2009 12:15 PM
VANCOUVER — U.S. President Barack Obama may attend the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
In an oblique reference earlier this week, David Jacobson, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, told the Vancouver Board of Trade he may “bring a friend” to Vancouver in February.
That might not seem like much, except for the fact that Jacobson, a Chicago lawyer, is a personal friend of the president and was also his presidential campaign deputy finance chairman.
“I don’t say this very often, but I’m looking forward to snow,” said Jacobson, who spent five days in B.C. touring Metro and Whistler.
“I’m looking forward to coming back here to Vancouver, maybe in February and maybe I’ll bring a friend,” he told the board of trade.
Jacobson didn’t elaborate on his remarks, and the U.S. Consulate said Thursday they have no knowledge of whether Obama will make the trip to Vancouver next year.
“The head of the U.S. delegation has not yet been named and we do not know who it will be,” said Charles Smith, a consulate spokesman.
The International Olympic Committee is responsible for inviting heads of state to its Games. The last time Obama attended an IOC event was in October in Copenhagen, where he helped deliver Chicago’s unsuccessful bid for the 2016 Games. The fact IOC members voted first to dump Chicago ahead of other losing bidders was seen by Americans as something of a snub to Obama, raising questions about whether he will want to attend the Vancouver opening ceremony so soon after the vote.
However, Smith said the consulate is “getting a lot” of questions from people wondering if Obama will attend the Olympics’ opening ceremony Feb. 12.
But if the president does make an appearance in Vancouver, he’ll likely also visit the Richmond Speed Skating Oval. The venue, like several others in Whistler and Vancouver, has been visited recently by U.S. Secret Service officials, who are charged with protecting the First Family.
Ted Townsend, a spokesman for the City of Richmond, said he had no advance knowledge that Obama will visit the oval. But he suggested the president may be drawn to the oval by the strong performance expected from Olympic gold medallist Shani Davis.
“Shani is a very strongly-ranked speed skater and I would suspect the president, if he comes to Vancouver, will want to take in his performance,” said Townsend.
“It will be a good performance, except for the fact that (Chetwynd-born speed skater) Denny Morrison is going to kick his butt.”
Meanwhile, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office confirmed he had received an invitation to attend the opening ceremony but had not yet confirmed whether he will attend.
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