Six countries from four continents are already interested in bidding for the 2016 Summer Olympics [Images], 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 [Images], Spain, the United States and Brazil [Images] had expressed an interest. Italy [Images] 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 [Images] in 2008, while London [Images] will host the Olympics in 2012.

(UNI)