Tulsa May Now Focus On 2024 Games Bid

Tulsa says it won't be submitting a bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games since the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) has decided not to bid for 2020, but Michael Jones, a local lawyer who is one of the leaders of the Tulsa 2020 bid committee, said the group will now focus on developing a bid for the 2024 Games instead.

According to Urban Tulsa Weekly Jones said, "actually, we'll be in an even better position then. It'll give us more time to prepare and the community more time to develop facilities".

In March a USOC official told GamesBids.com that the organization was not pursuing any 2020 bid and the deadline for nominations to be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to the 2020 Games is the middle of 2011.

Since Jones and his friend Neil Mavis decided last year to bid for the 2020 Games they have been meeting with local American Indian leaders to gauge their support, as well as community groups such as Tulsa Young Professions.

Jones has said any potential Tulsa bid would reflect a regional effort, with Olympic sites scattered across north-eastern and central Oklahoma, reports Urban Tulsa.

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