Obama: No regrets on Copenhagen trip

President Barack Obama said he had no regrets in traveling to Copenhagen overnight to make Chicago's case to host the 2016 Olympic.

Though Chicago lost its bid to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the president said the opportunity to make the case for the U.S. while abroad is "always a worthwhile endeavor," and congratulated Brazil on hosting the first South American Olympics.

"I want to thank everybody who worked so hard to put America's bid together," Obama said in a short statement at the White House after returning home. "I was proud that I was able to come in and make that case in person."

Obama congratulated Brazil on its landmark win, as well.

"We welcome this historic sign of progress that the 2016 games will be in the Americas," he said.

The president received the news of Chicago's stunning first-round defeat in International Olympic Committee voting while aboard Air Force One, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters earlier today. The president was "disappointed" by the IOC's decision, Gibbs said.