International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has welcomed the U.S. decision to bid for the 2024 Games and says whichever city is chosen will be a ''very strong'' contender.

The U.S. Olympic Committee board voted Tuesday in favor of a bid, but must still decide which city to put forward among four candidates - Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington.

Bach says ''a bid from the United States would be very strong, regardless of which of the cities is finally chosen.''

He says ''each of the four cities has its own very special appeal.''

The United States hasn't hosted the Summer Olympics since the Atlanta Games in 1996. New York and Chicago ran failed bids for the 2012 and 2016 Games, respectively.

Bach says U.S. athletes ''have a worldwide reputation'' and ''will be a huge asset for the bid.''

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