Los Angeles and Chicago have submitted detailed plans to the U.S. Olympic Committee that show why they think they should be selected to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The so-called Domestic Bid Books offer a detailed view of each city's vision for organizing and hosting those games. They contain 19 sections that address such issues as security, technology, accommodations, the environment and the strategy to gain the backing of international decision-makers.
The USOC evaluation commission will travel to Los Angeles on February 28 and to Chicago on March 5 for two days of inspections. The USOC will announce its applicant city on April 14.
The U.S. candidate city must be submitted to the International Olympic Committee on September 15. The host will be chosen in 2009. Other cities that have expressed serious interest in hosting the 2016 Games are Madrid, Tokyo, Rome and Rio de Janeiro.
The Los Angeles bid emphasizes Southern California's existing venues, its travel and tourism infrastructure, and its close ties to the media and entertainment industries.
A Chicago spokesman said its committee put together a 1,200-page outline that includes 25 athletic venues, of which about 65 percent are already built.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
