Could Houston host the 2016 Summer Olympics?

11:00 AM CDT on Thursday, July 7, 2005

By Jeremy Desel / 11 News

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There was excitement Wednesday in London when the city was awarded the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Could Houston be next?

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The odds may be better a second time around for a Houston Olympic effort.

City leaders have their eye on the summer of 2016.

11 News learned about Houston's itch to host the summer games during an afternoon announcement.

It could be the city's second attempt at attracting the international event.

The leaders of the Houston 2012 Committee watched Wednesday's announcement with a mix of emotions.

Officially, they said they are saddened that New York did not get the nod for 2012, but they are also not shy in saying Houston is ready to push forward with an Olympic effort for 2016.

In fact, the odds may be better a second time around for a Houston Olympic effort.

The US Olympic committee is very familiar with the city. They visited several times in the process. But for now, the players who got Houston as far as a finalist for the US bid city in 2012 will only say they are ready to move forward if the opportunity comes up.

Officially, the US Olympic Committee has to decide if it will bid for another games. Sources said that is virtually a lock.

2012 Committee Chair George DeMontrond said that failed effort may actually help in the long run.

"I don't consider it a failed 2012 bid," he said. "I think we did a lot to raise awareness of the city. I think we did a lot to get the city excited about itself. It showed us some of our shortcomings, which is important. You can't fix a problem you don't know exists. It raised the level of our image."

In the nearly three years since Houston lost to New York for the opportunity to bid in 2012, a lot has happened.

Houston has hosted the Super Bowl, the Major League All-Star Game and several major international soccer matches.

"I think that we have come so far since we bid the first time, or began to bid the first time that clearly we are in a better position now," says Susan Bandy of Houston 2012.

"I think that you will find that they are having those discussions as we speak and something will come out very shortly," says John Kelly of Houston 2012.

Kelly says it is also key to securing long-term sponsorship agreements. "Without that process people start to drift away and the interest starts to drift away," he says.