L.A. MIGHT BE 2016 OLYMPICS HOST SAN FRANCISCO, CHICAGO ALSO IN RUNNING.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

Los Angeles, which played host to the Olympics in 1932 and 1984, was named Wednesday as a finalist to possibly host the 2016 Summer Games.

The U.S. Olympic Committee also named San Francisco and Chicago as finalists, but said Houston and Philadelphia were knocked out of contention.

Although the games are still 10 years away, the decision is a factor in determining which city would be best suited to host the Summer Olympics, and whether the USOC will even place a bid to host the games.

``Los Angeles offered a very highly professional plan with a distinct advantage of maximum readiness,'' USOC Vice President Bob Ctvrtlik said during a teleconference from a Denver hotel.

``Most of their venues are already existing, which the technical committee, as well as many international people that we polled, felt were advantages,'' he said.

``But we want to be clear that all three plans at this point, even though we are moving forward, would have to be significantly revised before they are ready to compete.

``Our international research made it very, very clear that in spite of the relative strength of the two cities that will not be going forward, that the three cities -- Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco -- were best-positioned within the international sports movement to move forward at this time,'' Ctvrtlik said.

USOC leaders have said that they expect to decide by the end of the year whether they will try to bring the Olympics back to the United States. If so, the USOC is expected to select a city in March.

The International Olympic Committee will choose the host city for the 2016 games in 2009. The 2008 Olympics are planned for Beijing and the 2012 Games set for London.

Barry Sanders, head of the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, said in a telephone interview from France that he believes Los Angeles made the cut because of its modern facilities and history of hosting the games.

``The games need to come back to the United States and, obviously, I believe it should be Los Angeles because we can provide the glamour and excitement that doesn't exist anywhere else.

``If the games are going to recapture an American audience and American interest, I think the time is right to have the games held here,'' he said ``When they do come back, I think we can rebuild the public interest and support.''

The USOC's decision was based, in part, on evaluations filed by four technical experts and an informal international poll about whether the U.S. would fare well in a bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he would do all he could to ensure Los Angeles is selected as the U.S. finalist for host city.

``We are one step closer to realizing our dream to host the 2016 Olympic Games in our city at no cost to Los Angeles taxpayers,'' Villaraigosa said.

``Los Angeles has the facilities and the most diverse population of any city in the world. We have the entertainment genius and the support of Angelenos and the business community that provides powerful reasons for us to be selected.''