2016 Games finalists meet with IOC

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 17 (UPI) -- Representatives from the four cities vying to become the host site for the 2016 Olympics gave presentations Wednesday to the International Olympic Committee.

Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are the finalists for the 2016 Games. Sessions Wednesday and Thursday in Lausanne, Switzerland, are part of the IOC's assessment process that will end with a vote Oct. 2 to choose the Olympic site.

All 93 IOC members attended the meetings in Switzerland where the candidate cities' representatives gave technical briefings on their bids. An IOC release said "dozens detailed questions" were asked. Thursday's agenda allows for additional questioning by IOC members.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said the meetings are part of an IOC move to make the selection process more transparent, fair and professional.

The Swiss meetings come in the wake of visits to the four bidding cities by the IOC's Evaluation Commission, which is to make its report available to IOC members by early September.