Sept. 28 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama will fly to Copenhagen this week to attend a vote on where the 2016 Summer Olympics will be held, Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to the president said.

Obama will attend the final presentation on Oct. 2 before the International Olympic Committee for the bid by his adopted hometown of Chicago, Jarrett said in an interview.

“It strengthens our bid,” she said. “There is nothing like the president expressing what it means to him.”

Chicago is competing against Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. Organizers of the U.S. bid had been lobbying the White House to have Obama make the final pitch, although the president had previously said he was too busy with the battle in Congress over health-care legislation.

“President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama symbolize the hope, opportunity and inspiration that makes Chicago great, and we are honored to have two of our city’s most accomplished residents leading our delegation in Copenhagen,” Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley said in a statement issued by the Chicago 2016 bid committee.

World Leaders

Patrick Ryan, chairman of Chicago’s bid and founder of insurance brokerage Aon Corp., said in a statement that the president’s presence will mean a great deal in Copenhagen.

“There is no greater expression of the support our bid enjoys, from the highest levels of government and throughout our country, than to have President Obama join us in Copenhagen for the pinnacle moment in our bid,” Ryan said.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, King Juan Carlos of Spain, and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez are all also scheduled to be in Copenhagen. Tokyo is urging new Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to attend as well.

The White House said the first lady will arrive in Copenhagen on Sept. 30, along with Jarrett, who has led the White House’s Olympics lobbying effort.

The president will arrive just prior to Chicago’s presentation and will fly back to Washington the same day, the White House said.

“President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will both make presentations to the IOC during Friday’s session,” the White House said in a statement. “They will discuss why Chicago is best to host the 2016 Summer Games, and how the United States is eager to bring the world together to celebrate the ideals of the Olympic movement.”

Advance Team

While in Denmark, the president and first lady also will meet with Danish royalty and Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the White House said.

A White House advance team was sent to Copenhagen last week to make security and other arrangements. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said on Sept. 24 that it would be a “very quick trip” if the president did go.

Obama’s decision to make the trip will add star power to a U.S. delegation that already includes the first lady, television host Oprah Winfrey, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Chicago is bidding to bring the Summer Games back to the U.S. for the first time since Atlanta in 1996.

To contact the reporter on this story: John McCormick in Chicago at jmccormick16@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 28, 2009 09:03 EDT