Six countries from four continents are already interested in bidding for the 2016 Summer Olympics, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday.

IOC chief Jacques Rogge said the candidature period for cities to bid for these Games will open up in 2008 with a decision in 2009.

"There are six countries interested," Rogge told reporters after the end of the IOC's executive board meeting in Seoul.

He said so far that India, Japan, Spain, the United States and Brazil had expressed an interest. Italy is also considering a bid.

He said this is not a formal candidature yet but a preliminary interest by the countries.

South America has never hosted the Olympics.

India, the second largest populated country and a rapidly emerging global power, has also never won the bid to stage the Games.

The next summer Games will be held in Beijing in 2008, while London will host the Olympics in 2012.

(UNI)