In a process that takes three years, three months is not that long to wait for a quasi-conclusion. In June, the city of Chicago will learn if it has made the shortlist of candidate cities for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In April 2007, the U.S. Olympic Committee selected Chicago as the American bid city to compete against other international hopefuls for the privilege of hosting the 2016 Games. At that time, Chicago beat out only Los Angeles, as San Francisco had withdrawn its previous bid.

Now, Chicago is competing alongside cities such as Prague, Czech Republic; Tokyo, Japan; Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Baku, Azerbaijan; and Doha, Qatar.

If Chicago makes the international committee’s shortlist, the city will submit a final proposal detailing plans for an Olympic Village on the Lakefront, a new Olympic Stadium at Washington Park and an Olympic Sports Complex at Northerly Island. After visiting all the short-listed cities, the international committee will elect the official host city on Oct. 2, 2009.

For more information, visit www.chicago2016.org.