The United States President is expected to travel to Copenhagen in October to personally back Chicago's bid to follow London and host the 2016 Olympics, where they will be up against Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

 

Mori, who sits on the Board of the Japanese Olympic Committee, admitted that Tokyo's bid could be hampered by coming so soon after Beijing hosted the 2008 Games.

 

He said: "You also have to ask if the Games will come back to Asia (so soon) after Beijing last year. The threat could come from America.

"Chicago could be the biggest rival, helped by Obama's popularity.

 

"Like many people I thought Paris was almost certain to win the vote to host 2012.
 

"Then Tony Blair got involved at the end, and people say that tipped it and London won."
 

Mori, who was Japan's Prime Minister between 2000 and 2001, fears that history will repeat itself in the Danish capital when the IOC votes on who should host the 2016 Games at its Session on October 2, even though Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso is a former Olympic competitor, having competed in shooting at the 1976 Games in Montreal.

 

He said; "Obama could be a factor of course.

 

"I don't think Taro Aso would have much impact.

 

"I do wonder how many times the United States needs to host the Olympics though."