DENVER, July 26 (UPI) -- Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco have been chosen by the U.S. Olympic Committee to be considered as host sites for the 2016 Olympics.
Houston and Philadelphia were eliminated from consideration, the USOC said in a release Wednesday.
The three cities still in contention were given recommendations by the USOC to improve their plans. The USOC said its selection committee would decide by the end of the year whether to move forward with a formal international bid. If it does, a bid city would be chosen next March.
"Based upon the initial plans submitted by Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, the potential for a very competitive, high-quality international bid exists in each city," said International Olympic Committee Member and USOC Vice President, International Bob Ctvrtlik. "All three offer the potential of a dramatic Olympic legacy that could produce a positive impact for the worldwide Olympic Movement for decades to come."
The International Olympic Committee isn't expected to select a site for the 2016 Games until October 2009.
