Tuesday 5 May 2015 22:42, UK
Five cities, four of them in Europe, have confirmed an interest in hosting the Olympic Games in 2024.
Three - Hamburg, Rome and Boston in the United States - had previously been put forward by their respective countries to go forward, and they could be joined by Paris and Budapest.
International Olympic Committee executive director Christophe Dubi made the disclosure on Tuesday, although cities have until September 15 to enter their official bids. The IOC will make a decision in 2017.
Boston and Rome have already been selected to represent the USA and Italy, and Hamburg's bid will go ahead as long as a city referendum is passed.
Paris will discuss their prospective bid with the IOC on June 3, while a 'discussion phase' will be opened with the Hungarian capital on Thursday, although Dubi stressed that did not suggest a definite bid would be made.
"We have five cities who are interested," Dubi announced at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne.
"During these meetings in the 'invitation phase' we will discuss the projects of each of the cities and answer their questions."
The 2016 Games take place in Rio de Janeiro next summer with the 2020 Olympics going to Tokyo, who last hosted the summer Games in 1964.
