Chicago will pursue Olympic bid

The U.S. Olympic Committee has approved Chicago as the American candidate to pursue the bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games. Chicago won over Los Angeles to be the front-runner representing the U.S. by proposing to build extensive facilities, whereas previous host city L.A. already has nearly all the necessary venues in place. Madrid, Rome, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro are among the cities expected to be competing for official host status, which will be announced by the International Olympic Committee in October 2009. The 2008 summer games will be held in Beijing, wih London to follow in 2012.