Barack Obama`s election could give his hometown a huge leg up in its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. City officials in Chicago are giddy over the potential heft a hometown president might give them in their effort to beat out Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid, the three other host-city finalists.

The International Olympic Committee will make its decision next October in Copenhagen, Denmark, and some wonder whether Obama, who has openly touted the Windy City`s bid, can help seal the deal. "It puts a lot of focus on Chicago," Patrick Ryan, head of the Chicago 2016 bid, said of Obama`s election. "My discussions over the last two and a half years with IOC members leaves no doubt that the president-elect is very popular around the world and with IOC members. It can`t help but reflect positively."