Three bids eliminated

The number of cities in the running to host the games drops from seven to four as Doha, Prague, and Baku are eliminated from the list of potential candidates. Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro remain as possible hosts. IOC president Jacques Rogge makes a statement:

All bids were of a high standard. It’s a tribute to the health of the Olympic Movement that the field was so strong.

While Chicago is the strongest contender in terms of infrastructure, financial assets, and management, an IOC evaluation report ranks both Tokyo and Madrid higher than the American city.