Barack Obama

“ Not just – not just a city that – that works, but a city that inspires; a city that is creative; a city that is about change; a city that's about the 21st Century; a city that reflects the diversity that is the strength of America. ”

“ A city that – that recognizes that, although we come together from different walks of life, different paths – we've got different stories, we've got different histories – that ultimately we share the common values and common ideals of hard work and excellence and determination and a belief in each other. That we have obligations to each other, that we come together, and we can accomplish great things that we can't accomplish individually. ”

“ This was an unscheduled event, but I wanted to come by because Mayor Daley, Maggie Daley, Pat Ryan, the Chicago Olympic Committee, Valerie Jarrett – all the people that have helped to put this bid together – have performed an extraordinary service, because what they've recognized is that bringing the Olympics to Chicago will be a capstone of the success that we've had over the last couple of decades in transforming Chicago to become not just a great American city, but a great world city. ”