The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Chicago

Olympic champion Michael Phelps says he'll do "anything" to help Chicago win the 2016 Summer Games.

Chicago Olympic organizers are banking on the international attention Phelps brings to the city's bid. And the American swimmer is ready to work to convince the International Olympic Committee the city should get the games.

"I'll do anything I can do, anything I can do to help," Phelps said on Wednesday, with his lanky swimmer's body cloaked in a Chicago 2016 polo shirt and jeans.

Chicago is a finalist for the 2016 games along with Tokyo; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Madrid, Spain. The IOC will pick a host city next year.

The swimmer attended events promoting Chicago's Olympic bid the rest of Wednesday, including an evening reception with Mayor Richard Daley and a short live streaming Web chat for Chicago 2016.

Phelps told participants he intends to help bring the Olympics to the U.S. even though he won't compete in 2016 himself. He said he hopes to compete in one more Olympics, but he won't swim after age 30.

He described how he lived on pasta, pizza, fruit and chocolate bars while in Beijing. When asked what he would be if he wasn't a swimmer, he answered, "A couch potato, I'm lazy."

Phelps was in the city to tape the TV season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" with more than 170 other U.S. Olympians. It's all part of the whirlwind tour Phelps has been on since he snagged a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics last

month. Besides Winfrey's show, Phelps has been feted with a parade at Walt Disney World, filmed a cameo for HBO's "Entourage" and will be a presenter at the 2008 Video Music Awards.

The 23-year-old Phelps knows his is not the typical swimmer's life, where name recognition doesn't extend beyond the pool.

"I'm living a dream right now, so I want to have fun and enjoy it," he said.

And that's not all Phelps is up to. He has announced he will use a $1 million (euro690,000) bonus he got for his record-breaking swimming to start a foundation that promotes water safety and youth swimming.

He said he wants to "try to get more people in the water, to be comfortable around the water" because that can help in drowning prevention.

Phelps says his coach wants him back in the pool training early next year. In the meantime, he plans to keep up his travels and try to take some time to relax - including spending some valuable time on the couch watching television.

"I like to just live my life," he said.