Politics at highest level grips IOC

COPENHAGEN – Senior IOC members say Wednesday that the proven winning tactic of bringing top politicians to lobby for Olympic hosting votes could be reaching an end.

The comments by Dick Pound and Jim Easton – who share 46 years’ experience on the International Olympic Committee – came as Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in Copenhagen to press Rio de Janeiro’s case for being awarded the 2016 Games.

President Barack Obama flies in Friday to spend just a few hours in Denmark, and be part of Chicago’s final presentation before IOC members vote later in the day.

Pound said the visits would enhance the campaigns but was perhaps “going over the top a bit” given Obama’s busy schedule. (AP)