The trip means Obama wants to keep open the possibility of an appearance at the IOC meeting where the members will choose at its Session on October 2 which city will follow London 2012, an official said.

The spokesman said: “He is preserving his options."

Michelle Obama, who was born and raised in Chicago, is currently due to lead the US Government delegation to Copenhagen.

Chicago have been the frontrunners for most of the race but in recent weeks have slipped behind Rio de Janeiro, who have emerged as the favourites to become the first South American city to be awarded the Games.

Madrid and Tokyo are also bidding.

Even if the President attends the final presentation, the official said the First Lady would remain an integral part of the closing argument for the bid by her hometown of Chicago.

The President had called IOC President Jacques Rogge earlier this month to apologise for the fact that he would be unable to attend the meeting because he claimed that he is too occupied with the health-care overhaul debate to make a final pitch for Chicago in Copenhagen and that his wife was the best alternative.

But when the President spoke with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley about his decision not to attend the meeting, the White House said he did “leave the door open” should he be able to get away without harming his health-care efforts.

The official said “the most” the President would be able to attend would be the final presentation, not the final days of in-person lobbying typical of the gatherings, which then Prime Minister Tony Blair (pictured) did when London were awarded the 2012 Olympics at the IOC Session in Singapore in July 2005.

A White House advance team is sent ahead of any Presidential trip to review security matters and other accommodations.

They are likely to arrive in Copenhagen tomorrow.

Michelle Obama will be accompanied by fellow Chicagoan Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to the President and leader of the White House lobbying effort for Chicago’s bid.

The news that Obama may travel to Copenhagen after all has coincided with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley adopting a more positive attitude towards the bid.

He said: "I am very, very confident, because of the presentation, the financial package, everything that went into this huge effort of getting the international Olympics and paralympics to the city of Chicago.

"I'm very confident that we're going to get this because I believe we have the best proposal."


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