First Lady Michelle Obama is heading to Copenhagen next month to join the United States Olympic Committee delegation as it pushes for Chicago's efforts to get the winning bid for the 2016 Summer Games.

President Obama informed International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge that the fight to pass health insurance reform keeps him from committing the time to travel to Denmark.

"One of the great honors I have as First Lady is to represent America around the world and it is with great pride that I will go to Copenhagen to make the case for the United States to host the 2016 Olympics," said Mrs. Obama. "There is no doubt in my mind that Chicago would offer the world a fantastic setting for these historic games and I hope that the Olympic torch will have the chance to burn brightly in my hometown."

Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the President, will accompany the First Lady to Copenhagen for the final vote by the IOC, scheduled for October 2.

"The United States Olympic Committee and the entire U.S. Olympic family are extremely grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the extraordinary support they have provided and continue to provide to the Chicago 2016 bid and to Olympic, Paralympic and youth sport in America," the USOC said in a statement.

Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro are also bidding for the 2016 Games.

Past leaders have been called on to close deals to land the Olympics in their home countries. Tony Blair did it for London for the 2012 Games and Vladimir Putin came before the IOC to seal Russia's winning bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The close ties the Obamas have to Chicago could be a difference maker. The President worked as a civil rights attorney in the Windy City before going into politics and spent four years as a U.S. Senator prior to winning the presidency in 2008. Mrs. Obama was born and grew up on the South Side of Chicago.

"The First Lady, as a Chicago native, is a tremendous ambassador for the Chicago 2016 bid," the USOC statement continued. "She is a representative of Chicago and of America, of the first family and of their support for the bid. The USOC is thrilled to have her representing the bid in Copenhagen next month, conveying the importance of the Olympic Movement to our entire country, and how much support and passion there is nationwide to bring the Games back to America. We are proud the White House is a part of our delegation and look forward to working with the First Lady as well as President Obama's Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett in the coming weeks."

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