LAUSANNE, (AP):

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has welcomed the decision by the US to bid for the 2024 Games, and says whichever city is chosen will be a "very strong" contender.

The US Olympic Committee board voted Tuesday in favour of a bid, but must still decide which city to put forward among four candidates - Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco,

and Washington.

Bach said "a bid from the United States would be very strong, regardless of which of the cities is finally chosen".

He said "each of the four cities has its own very special appeal".

The United States hasn't hosted the Summer Olympics since the Atlanta Games in 1996. New York and Chicago ran failed bids for the 2012 and 2016 Games, respectively.

Bach said US athletes "have a worldwide reputation" and "will be a huge asset for the bid".

Team JPS won the ninth Appleton Rum Corporate Golf Challenge at the Constant Spring Golf Club on Wednesday, December 10. Here, Damian Whylie gets ready to putt, while JPS teammate Major George Kates looks on.