( CNN ) -- Michelle Obama gave an impassioned speech before the International Olympics Committee . President Obama traveled overseas -- in the middle of debates over health care and Afghanistan -- to make his personal pitch to bring the 2016 Olympics to his hometown . President Obama personally appealed to IOC members for the 2016 summer Olympic Games to be in Chicago . But despite their efforts , the Obamas will come home empty-handed as Chicago 's dreams of hosting the Games evaporated in the first round . The news stunned those awaiting the announcement , many of whom thought the battle was between Chicago , Illinois , and Rio de Janeiro , Brazil . Rio also beat out Madrid , Spain , and Tokyo , Japan , to host the games . Although the White House says the trip was the right thing to do , some Republicans say it will have some consequences for the president . `` Other than people who like to cheer , 'We 're No . 4 ! We 're No . 4 ! ' I do n't know how this is anything but really embarrassing , '' Republican strategist Rich Galen said , adding that Obama 's failed pitch will probably be the joke on Capitol Hill for weeks to come . `` Given the last two months starting with the August recess and all of the issues that surrounded that , I think that the White House staff , the senior staff needs to get together somewhere and figure out how they are going to fix this , because they are in a deep slump , '' he said . Upon returning to the White House on Friday , Obama expressed no regret about his trip , saying it is `` always a worthwhile endeavor to promote and boost the United States . '' `` One of the things that I think is most valuable about sports is that you can play a great game and still not win , '' the president said . `` Although I wish that we had come back with better news from Copenhagen , I could not be prouder of my hometown of Chicago . '' White House senior adviser David Axelrod said that although the results were `` disappointing , '' Obama did the best he could . `` The president made , I think , a very strong appeal , and it did n't work out . But it was well worth the effort . Any time this president has a chance to go and promote the interests of this country and promote the interests of a city or a state within this country on something of this magnitude , he 's going to take that opportunity , '' he said . Axelrod said Obama 's appeal was n't strong enough to overcome the `` internal currents , '' pointing out that former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch was among those leading the bid to bring the games to Madrid . `` I think there were other things that played there that we simply could n't overcome , and that 's life . Life goes on , '' he said . U.S. Rep. Danny Davis , a Chicago Democrat , said the loss is `` kind of heartbreaking . ... A tremendous amount of effort has been put into trying to win the bid . '' It was n't a mistake for Obama to make the trip , Davis said . `` I think the president did what we would expect him to do , and that is show leadership , '' he said . Obama spent just four hours in Copenhagen and flew back before the announcement was made . The president also met with his commander in Afghanistan , Gen. Stanley McChrystal , aboard Air Force One , following up on a Wednesday meeting with his national security team on how to proceed on the war , the White House said . Before his trip , critics questioned whether Obama should leave the country to make his pitch , given his already full plate . `` Listen , I think it 's a great idea to promote Chicago , but he 's the president of the United States , not the mayor of Chicago , '' House Minority Leader John Boehner said , Politico reported . `` And the problems we have here at home affect all Americans , and that 's where his attention ought to be . '' Last month , when the Obamas hosted an event on the White House lawn to rally support for Chicago 's bid , Obama was against making the trip . `` I would make the case in Copenhagen personally , if I were n't so firmly committed to making -- making real the promise of quality , affordable health care for every American , '' the president said . But the administration had little choice but to raise the stakes , White House officials said , given that the other competitors all were sending their heads of state to Copenhagen . CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley said Obama 's failure to bring the Games to Chicago wo n't cause any enduring political damage . `` It opens him to criticism and it makes it difficult for him for a while . But will it mean NATO is n't going to send more troops to Afghanistan because he did n't get the Olympics ? No . Does it mean that any Republican or Democrat will change their mind on health care ? No . `` He 's going to be in a lot bigger trouble if he does n't deliver on health care , believe me , '' she said .
NEW : ` ` I could not be prouder of my hometown of Chicago , '' Obama says . ` ` I do n't know how this is anything but really embarrassing , '' the strategist says . Critics had questioned whether Obama should make trip , on his full plate . Chicago eliminated in first round ; Rio de Janeiro eliminated .