U.S. bid must vow to admit all nations

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - The International Olympic Committee would welcome a U.S. bid for the 2016 Summer Games - provided the government doesn't try to bar nations as it has with Cuba at the World Baseball Classic.

"I would really love to have a (U.S.) bid," IOC President Jacques Rogge said in an interview with The Associated Press. "There is a great tradition of games in the U.S. The States has organized by far the most Winter and Summer Games."

The 16-team World Baseball Classic, set for March 3-20, is organized by Major League Baseball and its players' union.

In December, the U.S. Treasury Department denied baseball's application for Cuba to play in the United States. The license is required under 45-year-old American sanctions against Cuba aimed at preventing Fidel Castro's government from receiving U.S. currency.

"We would need to have guarantees in terms of immigration, of all athletes and all countries, to avoid this issue that we have with Cuba," Rogge said.

After Cuba promised to donate any money to victims of Hurricane Katrina, baseball reapplied for a permit and is still awaiting a decision.

Rogge noted there were no restrictions on entry of athletes for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

"Of course, times have changed now, but I would expect the factor of the Olympic Games would definitely not have the repeat of the things we're having with the baseball classic," he said. "That should not be too difficult for the United States to say 'yes' with the proper accreditation and, of course, with proper vetting and the proper pre-games monitoring."

Rogge was referring to stricter security checks after the Sept. 11 attacks.

New York mounted a bid for the 2012 Olympics but finished fourth in July's IOC vote.

The U.S. Olympic Committee has not decided whether to come back with a 2016 bid. Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco have expressed interest.

USOC President Peter Ueberroth has said it won't be worth making a bid unless a U.S. city could present a clear partnership between city, state and federal officials, and the public sector.

Rogge cited possible bids from Rome or Milan, Italy; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; a Japanese city; New Delhi; and Madrid, Spain.

Preliminary bids for the 2016 Summer Olympics do not have to be submitted for another 18 months. The host city will be chosen in 2009.