U.S. Olympic Committee in town today

So Houstonist noted a couple of weeks ago that Houston is still in the market for a summer Olympics, and now we hear that the U.S. Olympic Committee is in town today to see if we're ready to host the 2016 Games. Mayor Bill White and the nine other officials who will meet with the committee today seem to think Houston has a chance, but the USOC is trying to figure out whether it should pursue a bid for the 2016 Olympics at all.

Last time the USOC dissed Houston, it praised the city's facilities and hospitality, but cited the heat and a lack of international recognition (and, rumor has it, the committee thought Houston was ugly). This time around, Houston 2012 officials — won't they need to change their name to Houston 2016? — say Houston has made a lot of progress. Just look: We held the Super Bowl and the baseball and basketball All-Star games here, and we have a bunch of hurricane evacuees! What's that you say? World-class?

"When we closed up shop two or three years ago, we didn't know whether we'd have another chance to bid, but now, it turns out we do," said Houston 2012 Chairman George DeMontrond. "We kept all the things intact that we need to start our bid and we're eager to get going."

The committee will also visit Chicago, Philadelphia, L.A. and San Francisco. It's not clear when the U.S. will decide if it wants to put in a bid for the 2016 Games; the decision on the host city is expected in 2009.