CHICAGO 2016 BID AT ODDS-ON FOR OLYMPICS ACCORDING TO BETFAIR

US President Barack Obama is heading to Copenhagen to aid his adopted hometown of Chicago in its bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Chi-Town has been the favourite for quite some time, but they are facing some stiff competition from Rio de Janeiro (a South American country has never hosted). The punters at Betfair are pretty sure that the Obama-factor will be a major turning point for the IOC but the fact that Brazil will be hosting the World Cup in 2014 could be a mitigating factor. Surely though, Brazil's problems with gang violence, crime and poverty will work against them because Chicago doesn't have any?. Oh wait, yeah it does. The last time the US hosted the Olympics in 1996 and there was only one bombing, which is pretty good by American standards in the mid 90s. Currently, Chicago is listed at 1.75 while Rio De Janeiro is trading at around 3.15 to be awarded the games. These two look like virtually the only cities with a shot at it, as the next closest competitor is Madrid at 12.0. Tokyo is really the only other possible selection and they carry a price of 15.5. Prague is trading at 500.0 so they are virtually out of it and Doha and Baku are both listed at 1000.0. For a bit of perspective, Any Other City is listed at 360.0, which tells you something about the bids prepared by Doha and Baku. Some UK bookmakers haven't even bothered to lay odds on anybody but the top four of Chicago, Rio, Tokyo and Madrid. Could the Obama factor really be America's Trump Card? We'll find out shortly, but the betting action is squarely on Chicago. The decision is expected Friday.