Representatives from four cities bidding to be the U.S. candidate to host the 2024 Olympic Summer Games have met with leaders at the U.S. Olympic Committee for a briefing to discuss the next steps in the bidding process. The contingents from Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., included mayors, civic leaders, Olympians and sports-industry veterans.

“I’d like to thank each city’s civic and political leadership for the commitment they have shown to our process thus far,” said USOC Chairman Larry Probst. “Our discussions this week have created a foundation for something that could be truly unique. There is a great deal of work left to do before we can make a decision, but I’m more optimistic than ever that a U.S. bid for the 2024 Games can be successful.”

The USOC identified the four remaining cities in June as it considers whether or not to move ahead with a 2024 bid. The USOC will not decide whether to submit a bid from one of the cities until early 2015 after the International Olympic Committee completes its Olympic Agenda 2020 discussion that may alter the way countries submit bids to hosts future Games. The IOC is expected to begin accepting bids for the 2024 Games some time in 2015, with a decision in 2017.

“This week marks another important milestone as we evaluate whether the time is right to bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We’ve tried to create a thoughtful and deliberate process and I think everyone involved believes we’re getting closer to a decision,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “Each city has necessarily evaluated how hosting a Games in its community fits into the long-term plans for that city, but equally exciting to me is the universal commitment to making a positive contribution to worldwide sport and the Olympic and Paralympic movements. That’s something I truly believe a Games hosted in the U.S. can do and I’m excited about the potential.”

Attendees from each U.S. candidate city visited the USOC at its headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. From Boston, the contingent included Mayor Martin Walsh and businessmen John Fish, Dan O’Connell and Robert Reynolds. Los Angeles sent Mayor Eric Garcetti, Wasserman Media Group CEO Casey Wasserman, Deputy Mayor of City Services Doane Liu and sports attorney Jon Oram. San Francisco’s contingent included San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer, Olympian Anne Cribbs, businessman Steve Strandberg and Tony Winnicker, an aide to Mayor Ed Lee. Washington sent representatives of DC 2024, including Chairman Russ Ramsey, Monica Dixon, Jeff Klueter and attorney Anthony T. Pierce.