Michael Johnson, Nadia Comaneci, Nastia Liukin and Jackie Joyner-Kersee are among 14 Olympic and two Paralympic gold medalists who will travel to Copenhagen next week in support of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics. Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey will accompany them. The International Olympic Committee will choose from Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo on Oct. 2. 'It's hard for me to be unbiased about this,' said Bart Conner, a Chicagoan and double gold medalist in gymnastics at the 1984 Olympics. 'When you look at the plan and the spectacular city and the legacy plan and the convenience for the athletes against the backdrop of the city, on lots of levels, Chicago gets it and understands what the Olympics is about.' That Winfrey would be part of the delegation is hardly a surprise. She's been an ardent supporter of the bid, and said this month that she'd do whatever organizers needed. When she threw a party on Chicago's famed Michigan Avenue to celebrate the start of her 24th season on TV, she said she hoped it would impress IOC members. 'I love and believe in Chicago, and I think it would be the perfect host city,' Winfrey said on Wednesday. Star power could be key in a decision that is expected to come down to a couple of votes, and Chicago will have no shortage of it. First lady Michelle Obama leads the delegation, and she'll be joined by 26 Olympians and Paralympians. President Barack Obama is still trying to decide whether to appear personally on behalf of his adopted hometown. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Johnson became the only man to win the 200 and 400 meters at the same games; Comaneci's string of seven perfect 10s at the Montreal Games captivated the world; Liukin is the reigning Olympic all-around gymnastics champ; and Joyner-Kersee is among the greatest athletes ever, winning three golds in the heptathlon and long jump. Joining them are fellow gold medalists Michael Conley, the 1992 triple jump champion who grew up near the planned Olympic stadium in Washington Park; Bryan Clay (decathlon); Brandi Chastain (football); Bob Ctvrtlik (volleyball); Donna de Varona and Gary Hall Jr. (swimming); Ron Freeman (athletics); Edwin Moses (hurdles); Kerri Walsh (beach volleyball); and April Holmes and Linda Mastandrea (Paralympic track and field); Noticeably absent is Michael Jordan, who played for the Chicago Bulls and has appeared in videos supporting Chicago's bid. 