Madrid named as Spain's candidate for 2016 Olympics

MADRID, May 30 (Reuters) Madrid was officially named as Spain's candidate to host the 2016 Olympics today, nearly two years after failing in its attempt to hold the 2012 Summer Games.

''This project is not starting from scratch and objectively we have more of a chance of winning the bid that we did for the 2012 Games,'' city mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon told a news conference at the Spanish Olympic Committee's headquarters in Madrid.

Madrid was eliminated in the third round of voting at an International Olympic Committee (IOC) congress in Singapore in 2005.

London was awarded the Games after defeating Paris in the decisive vote.

The Spanish capital is expected to face competition from Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, and Doha to host the 2016 Games.

National Olympic committees have until September 13 to inform the IOC of any applicant city from their territory.

The IOC will then proceed with an examination of replies and will come up with a shortlist of candidate cities in June 2008.

The final vote for the 2016 host city will take place in Copenhagen on October 2, 2009 during the IOC's 121st session.

REUTERS TB KN2000