USOC officials are "sounding out international officials in Sochi about a potential American bid for the games -- and the feedback is positive," according to Stephen Wilson of the AP. The USOC is "currently weighing a possible run" for the '24 Summer Games, and the '26 Winter Games also "would be an option" if '24 is ruled out. USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said, "There's a recognition that the U.S. is an important market, and at some point in the future, the games should go back there." The U.S. last hosted the Summer Games in '96 (Atlanta) and the Winter Games in '02 (Salt Lake City), and Wilson noted the IOC "may be eager to encourage another bid from the U.S. because it would bring a high-profile player into the race and boost interest in the Olympics." But "whether IOC members want the U.S. to win is another matter." The USOC has been "consulting with cities interested" in bidding for '24, including L.A., S.F., San Diego, Dallas, Boston, Philadelphia and DC. The USOC "hopes to make a decision by the end of this year." The IOC bid process "begins in 2015, with the host city to be selected in 2017." Blackmun "insisted the focus is solely on 2024." He said, "We're not currently engaged in a process of weighing summer vs. winter. We're engaged in a process of looking at what our options would be for a summer bid and assessing the viability of a summer bid" (AP, 2/12).
