The chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee says "it is our intention to bid" for the 2024 Olympics if a number of criteria are met the strongest indication yet that the United States will put forth a bid city by the end of next year.
Among the requirements chairman Larry Probst listed as the USOC makes its decision: "Do we have the right message, the right technical plan, the right leader, right financial support, governmental support?"
"A lot of things have to fall into place," Probst said Tuesday after the USOC board's quarterly meeting. "But we continue to be focused on that opportunity."
A small group from the USOC has been visiting potential host cities, including Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington.
CEO Scott Blackmun said the list of cities will be slowly and quietly culled next year, with the process speeding up after the Sochi Olympics in February. The USOC must commit to a bid by the end of 2014.