Who's Next to Host Olympic Games?

Could Sacramento be a contender to host the Olympics?

Radio show host Mark Kreidler thinks so.

With good weather and a world-class aquatic center at Lake Natoma, some see the capital region as a good choice.

"Sacramento is a big enough place now to start to think bigger," said Kreidler, a host at Sports 1140.

He wrote a story in Sactown on the subject, and hopes city and county leaders will put their hats in the ring to promote hosting the summer games in Sacramento in 2020.

Sacramento State has already hosted the U.S. Track and Field Trials twice.

Kreidler said a new arena could host basketball, gymnastics and volleyball.

He said Sacramento should not sell itself short.

"Tulsa, Oklahoma is bidding on the 2020 Olympics," he said. "Why not Sacramento?"

Reno is also hoping to throw its hat in the Olympic rings. It has a group working to bring the Winter Games there in 2018.

Of course, there are reasons not to make a push. Chicago spent $80 million on its failed bid for the 2016 Summer Games, and officials from the U.S. Olympic Committee have indicated they likely will not submit a bid for the 2020 games.

"It's going to be difficult to get U.S. cities to continue to invest to that level unless they think they have a realistic chance of winning," USOC Chief Executive Scott Blackmun told the Washington Post last week. "The [International Olympic Committee] sent us a message, loud and clear, that they don't want the Games to be in the United States."

It's not unprecedented to have an Olympics in Northern California. Squaw Valley hosted the 1960 Winter Games. 

KCRA.com contributed to this report.

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