Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco remained in running as the USA Olympic Committee narrowed its list of cities for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The USOC eliminated Houston and Philadelphia from consideration Wednesday as it continued its applicant city evaluation process, at the end of which it will decide whether to submit a US bid city to the International Olympic Committee and if so which one, according to reports from Colorado, Springs, Colorado.

Los Angeles has twice hosted the Olympics, in 1932 and 1984, while the last US city to host a Summer Games was Atlanta in 1996.

Beijing hosts the 2008 Summer Games, and London is the venue for 2012.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2006)