The U.S. Olympic Committee sent out a letter to the mayors of 35 cities Tuesday to gauge each city's potential interest in hosting the 2024 Summer Games.
Included on the list is the nation's top 25 largest cities, which range from New York City (population: 8.2 million) to Nashville/Davidson County (580,000). The USOC also sent letters to 10 other cities that have expressed interest in hosting the Olympics.
There is no guarantee the USOC will bid for the 2024 Games, group spokesman Patrick
Sandusky said in an e-mail.
The USOC could potentially pass on the Summer Games if no strong candidates emerge and instead pursue the 2026 Winter Games.
He said the USOC has sent out letters in the past but the goal this time was to streamline the process and make it less costly for cities to put together bid campaigns.
Among the many requirements for potential bid cities: 45,000 hotel rooms, an Olympic Village that sleeps 16,500 and has a 5,000-person dining hall and public transportation service to venues.
