USOC Will Pass On 2022 Olympic Bid, Consider ‘24 And ‘26

It will be at least another 12 years before the Olympics are held on American soil. The United States Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday it will not bid for the 2022 Winter Games, but will instead create a task force to explore the possibility of competing to host the Summer Olympics in 2024 or Winter Olympics in 2026.

A bid for the 2022 Games is due in 2013, which the USOC felt was too quick of a timeline.

“It’s not so much about bidding for 2022 as what strategy gives us the best chance to submit a winning bid,” CEO Scott Blackmun said. “Looking at 2024 and 2026 gives us the best chance to do that. It allows us to form partnerships with all the people who need to be involved in a bid. That would allow us to put our best foot forward.”

The U.S. has not hosted an Olympiad since Salt Lake City had the Winter Games in 2002. Atlanta hosted the Summer Games in 1996.

The USOC’s decision comes not long after it resolved a long-standing feud over revenue sharing with the International Olympic Committee. When Chicago finished last in a bid for 2016, the USOC felt much of the blame and was criticized for its poor international reputation.

Last week, an exploratory committee in Denver recommended the city move forward with plans for a 2022 bid.

After London, the next three Olympic Games host cities are set: Sochi, Russia (Winter 2014); Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Summer 2016); and Pyeongchang, South Korea (Winter 2018).