(AGI) Los Angeles, Dec 17 - The United States has announced itintends to bid to host the 2024 Olympics. The bid will offerone city, although the rules allow the games to be held indifferent centres. Los Angeles, Washington, Boston and SanFrancisco are the probable choices. Whichever is selected willrun against Italy's bid for Rome. The U.S. cities estimate thecost of organising the games will be between four and fivebillion dollars, excluding the cost of infrastructures such asairports and roads. Experts predict America is among thefavourites, as it is the leading International OlympicCommittee market for TV rights and merchandising. United StatesOlympic Committee chairman Larry Probst said: "The board votedunanimously to move forward with a bid. We are going to takeour time and pick the city we think has the best chance ofwinning the competition from other cities around the world.This is going to be a really, really difficult decision. Thatis why we want to make sure we get the best possible decision."The U.S. announcement came 48 hours after Italian PrimeMinister Matteo Renzi announced Italy's bid to host the gamesin Rome. Germany has said it will propose Hamburg or Berlin forthe 2024 or 2028 games, and Paris may also come up with a bid.Baku and Doha, who lost out to Tokyo for the 2012 games, mayalso bid, and there is talk of a South African bid for Durbanor Johannesburg-Pretoria. Finalists will be selected in May2016, and a decision will be made in 2017. (AGI) . .