"Since December we have worked quickly and diligently on an implementation calendar," the official said.

"Letters have been sent, and we hope to have many interested cities involved."

The opening process comes a week after Boston was confirmed as the sole US contender after beating off opposition from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington D.C.

With no US city having hosted a Summer Games since Atlanta did so in 1996, the city starts the process as the early favourite, although it would be foolish to proclaim a US victory as an inevitability at this stage, with many other bids in the pipeline.

Rome is the only other city to have formally confirmed an attempt, while either Berlin or Hamburg is expected to be soon revealed as a German candidate.

Paris, Baku, Budapest and Istanbul are other European cities reportedly considering bids, along with Qatari capital Doha and a South African effort potentially utilising a number of different cities. 

Dubi, who did not elaborate on any particular contender this morning, did also not give away more details on the ramifications of the Agenda 2020 proposal to allow more events to be held outside the host city to maximise existing venues.

This has already created a lot of excitement, among potential bidders, with many muting the possibility of either holding some sports outside the host city, or, like South Africa, of combining the entire Games between several locations. 

The IOC will be keen to avoid the problems seen during the 2022 Winter Olympic race, where Almaty and Beijing are the only remaining contenders in what was initially a six-strong contest ©Getty Images



Dubi, who replaced Gilbert Felli as IOC Executive Director last year, said that maximising the athlete experience would be a key priority highlighted by the IOC during their consultation, while costs and other consequences of Agenda 2020 are other likely areas of interest.  

He also predicted that they would hear a variety of different proposals, from cities who already have concrete plans in place to those only in the early stages of considering a bid. 

"How many we will have in the end is a really good question," he said.

"We could have two scenarios, only cities that have a project or a very strong idea, so a decent or limited number.

"Or it could be overwhelming with many NOCs having questions."

After the invitation phase concludes in September, there will be an information seminar hosted by the IOC in Lausanne from October 7 until 9, ahead of the deadline for cities to submit Application Files and guarantee letters on January 8, 2016

A final decision as to the host is due to be announced at the 130th IOC Session, which will be held in Peruvian capital Lima in the summer of 2017.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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