2024 Chicago Olympics Bid? Mayor Still Says No

The U.S. Olympic Committee sent letters to the mayors of 25 cities asking if they want to make a bid for 2024 Games.

Chicago was on the list, but after a devastating first-round defeat for the 2016 Olympics, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office said Tuesday they're not interested.

The USOC board last summer to pass on a 2022 bid and instead form a committee to look into the 2024 and 2026 Games. Following failed bids by New York and Chicago for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, the USOC is taking a measured approach before moving ahead with a new campaign and wants to be sure it has a good chance of winning.

Bids would be due this fall.

"Our objective in this process is to identify a partner city that can work with us to present a compelling bid to the IOC and that has the right alignment of political, business and community leadership," USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said in the letter.

The USOC has also said it would consider whether to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics, although the bigger and more prestigious Summer Games would seem to be the preference.

The U.S. hasn't hosted the Summer Olympics since Atlanta in 1996; Salt Lake City was the last American city to stage the Winter Games in 2002.

"This letter does not guarantee that the USOC will bid for the 2024 Games, but rather is an initial step in evaluating a potential bid," the committee said.

New York finished fourth in the international bidding for the 2012 Olympics, which went to London. Chicago suffered a stinging first-round exit in the vote for the 2016 Games, which were awarded to Rio de Janeiro.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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