July 14, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 28, 1428

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 13: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge encouraged Brazil's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics on Thursday despite Rio staging the most expensive Panamerican Games in history.

Rogge, who has vigorously campaigned to reduce the cost and size of the Olympic Games, took no issue with the estimated $1.5 to $2 billion price tag put on the Rio Panam Games and welcomed the city's candidature to host the 2016 Olympics.

“I would like to say that the International Olympic Committee is very happy that we have six excellent candidates (for the 2016 Summer Games),” Rogge told reporters. “The IOC can be very happy to have received the candidature for Rio. The six candidates have very good potential and I can say Rio will be a very strong contender.’’

Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio along with Doha, Qatar and Baku, Azerbaijan are set to battle for one of world sport's biggest prizes.—Reuters