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U.S. President Barack Obama kisses his wife the U.S. first lady Michelle Obama after she made an address during the Chicago 2016 bid presentation at the 121st International Olympic Committee session at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are competing for the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The IOC will choose the winning city in a vote on Friday in Copenhagen.
Gerald Herbert/The Canadian Press

Obama's trip to Copenhagen cost $1M or more

The Associated Press
Posted Friday, October 2, 2009 6:37 PM ET

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's failed bid to bring the 2016 Olympic Games to Chicago, Illinois, cost more than a bruised ego.

Taxpayers shelled out probably $1 million or more for the president, his wife and others to fly to Copenhagen and back to woo members of the International Olympic Committee.

A 2006 congressional study pegged the cost of flying Air Force One at $56,518 per hour. The Pentagon recently said it cost $100,219 per hour to fly the huge, reconfigured Boeing 747 without Obama aboard. The Pentagon estimate included more costs for support needs, such as maintenance.

At those rates, the president's 14-hour round trip between Washington and Copenhagen cost about $790,000 to $1.4 million.

However, presidential travel requires additional spending, especially for security personnel and equipment. Also, first lady Michelle Obama and some administration officials travelled to Copenhagen at public expense ahead of the president.

The Copenhagen trip was not devoted entirely to the Olympics bid.

President Obama spent 25 minutes conferring with Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, his top Afghan war commander. McChrystal had been in London for a speech, and he made the relatively short trip to Denmark to meet with Obama.

 

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