Montreal may bid for 2016 Olympics

MONTREAL, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Montreal, with its last Olympics still unpaid for, is considering making a bid for the 2016 games.

The city hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics, running up a debt of $1.5 billion for construction. The province of Quebec expects to make the final payments next year.

Mayor Gerald Tremblay floated the possibility of bidding for 2016 after Montreal hosted the world swimming championship, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported. But the city would need the support of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Some officials believe that Montreal's chances are slim for 2016 because the International Olympic Committee may try for something new, like an African Olympics.

Montreal, in spite of having hosted the games 30 years ago, would also have to start almost from the beginning in construction since much of the old Olympic facilities have been turned to other uses.