September 12, 2007	Wednesday	Sha'aban 29, 1428

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 11: Fresh from hosting the Pan American Games, Rio has officially submitted its bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The bid, entered on Sept 7 and made public on the Brazilian Olympic Committee’s website, features letters of support from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and state and city officials.

Thursday is the IOC deadline for submission of preliminary bids. Other contenders include Chicago, Tokyo, Prague, Czech Republic, Madrid, Spain and Doha, Qatar.

The IOC is expected to announce the list on Friday.—AP