(September 3, 2008)--Oprah Winfrey is taping the season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" at a downtown Chicago park on Wednesday, and she invited 150 U.S. Olympic athletes to join her.

Harpo Productions says Winfrey intends the show to be both a welcome home for athletes who competed in Beijing and a chance to showcase Chicago as the city bids for the 2016 Games.

Michael Phelps, Parker, Texas native Nastia Liukin and Kobe Bryant are among the Olympians set to participate.

Hundreds of fans stood in line for hours for a chance at 2,000 seat tickets.

Another 7,000 lawn seats will be available Wednesday.

The show airs Monday.