Madrid should go for 2016, says bid leader

Madrid should be put forward to hold the 2016 Olympic Games, the leader of the Spanish capital's failed 2012 bid team said.

"If it were up to me I would say we should get straight back into the running for the next Olympics," Feliciano Mayoral told sports reporters.

"Never in the history of the Olympics has a city had 32 votes in the second round and lost. We had everything done and the highest level of support among the cities' populations."

Madrid fell in the third round of voting in Singapore last week when London was selected as the host city for the 2012 Games.

The Spanish capital beat New York and Moscow into third place but fell two votes short of Paris going into the fourth and final round of voting.

"We would need a good international lobby to sell Madrid's 2016 bid," Mayoral added.

"When a bid like London wins, which was practically a virtual affair, with little popular support and a lot of money still to be spent, it is because it has done well to lobby internationally.

"I think we could win if we tried again but no one can guarantee that."

Madrid's mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon was confident the city would host the event one day but needed time to consider whether a bid would be made for 2016.

"We came third on our first attempt so I believe it is worth continuing the project. I have no doubt that Madrid will be an Olympic city but what we have to decide is whether we present a bid for 2016 or 2020," said Ruiz-Gallardon.