Olympic dreams are not the product of sudden whims or spontaneous impulses, rather they are recognized through hard work, perseverance and careful planning. The Bid to bring the Olympic Games to the San Francisco Bay Area is a long term endeavor designed to instill the unique essence of the Bay Area into the hearts of the world.

May 1998
Bay Area announces Bid effort for the 2012 Olympic Games

October 1998
San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approves San Francisco as a Bid City

December 2000 Deadline for submission of Bid documents to United States Olympic Committee (USOC)

Summer 2001
USOC Site Evaluation Task Force visits all Bid Cities

October 2001
USOC selects finalists for U.S. Candidate City for 2012 Olympic Games: Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC

June/July 2002
USOC Site Evaluation Task Force begins visits to finalist Bid Cities

August/September 2002
USOC Site Evaluation Task Force to narrow field to two cities

November 2002
USOC selects U.S. Candidate City for 2012 Olympic Games

Spring 2004
U.S. Candidate City is presented to International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Fall 2005
International Olympic Committee selects Host City for the 2012 Olympic Games