GENEVA, Dec 14: Geneva announced on Friday it would bid to host the 2018 winter Olympics, but only after it consults with its citizens.

Geneva’s inhabitants will be consulted in a referendum to be held before the end of 2009, but the organising committee are already beaming with optimism.

“Geneva and its surrounding region boasts a wide range of excellent sports venues, all of which correspond to the criteria set down by the International Olympic Committee (IOC),” said committee president Marco Torriani.

Torriani added that all ice-related events could be held in nearby towns, with snow-sports events being held in the nearby cantons of Vaud and Valais.

Geneva’s inhabitants will be consulted by referendum before the end of 2009, the cut-off date for the Swiss Olympic Committee to launch any official bid.

The IOC will select the candidate cities in 2010 and select the host city for 2018 in 2011.

Vancouver in Canada will host the 2010 winter Olympics while Sochi in Russia will host the 2014 edition.

Switzerland has hosted the Olympics only twice, in 1928 and 1948 – both times in St Moritz. —AFP