Houston, Philly eliminated for 2016 bid

San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago remain in contention for the U.S.
DENVER (AP) -- The U.S. Olympic Committee eliminated Houston and Philadelphia as candidate cities for the 2016 Olympics Wednesday, leaving San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago in the running for what many consider to be America's best shot in years at landing the Summer Games.
The USOC won't decide until later this year whether it even will bid for the 2016 Games. If it does, it will pick a city by the end of next March. The International Olympic Committee will pick the winning site in 2009.
The U.S. has not hosted the Summer Games since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The 2002 Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City.
The USOC appointed a four-person committee to evaluate information provided by the cities last month, including ideas for an Olympic stadium, an Olympic village and the amount of local and regional government support they would expect to receive.
Looking for best shot
The committee also reviewed international polling on whether the time is right for an American city to host the Olympics and which city might have the best chance to win the bid.
"All five cities that have participated in this process are capable of one day hosting the Olympic Games," said Peter Ueberroth, the USOC chairman and the architect of the profit-making 1984 Games in Los Angeles. "From the outset, we have said this process is about identifying the one U.S. city that has the best chance of being competitive in the international race. If we do not believe a U.S. city can be competitive, we will not bid."
Other cities that have expressed interest in hosting the 2016 Games include Rome and Milan in Italy; Madrid, Spain; Hamburg, Germany; and the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Fukuoka.
Among the factors that will weigh into any bid is the amount of revenue the 2016 Olympics can be expected to produce -- and how much will go to the host country. A big chunk of that revenue comes from TV rights, and the U.S. Olympic TV rights are sold only through 2012.
Diversity promoted
Of the remaining candidates, Los Angeles is citing its diversity as a strong point and the availability of 38 Olympic-quality venues since it has hosted two Summer Games. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also has suggested the events will be easier to get to than in 1984.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said his Olympics would provide a stunning setting for the Games, with marathoners crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, cyclists pedaling through the Presidio and sailors navigating his city's scenic bay.
Chicago, meanwhile, promised support from corporations, compact events framed by Lake Michigan's shoreline, mass transit and, like Los Angeles, ethnic diversity.
Ueberroth said all three cities offer promising details.
"However, having said that, as we move forward we will provide each of the cities with specific and, in some cases, significant recommendations to enhance and improve their plans to prepare them for the critical phase of international competition that might lie ahead," he said.
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