Quebec City to bid for Winter Olympics: report

It appears as though Quebec City is getting more serious about wanting to host the Winter Olympics.

According to a report published Saturday in Quebec City newspaper Le Soleil, the provincial capital will likely select Claude Rousseau, president of the Quebec Remparts junior hockey team, as head of Team Quebec, a group charged with bringing major infrastructure investments to the region to make it a more attractive bid city for the 2022 or 2026 Winter Games.

Rousseau declined comment to Le Soleil.

The premier's office issued a release to local media on Friday, inviting them to an announcement ceremony Monday morning relating to Quebec City.

The provincial capital was unsuccessful in its attempts to land the 2002 and 2010 Games.

Earlier this year, Chris Rudge, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, told 24 Hours in Vancouver that Quebec City could be a potential candidate to host the 2022 Games.

"Quite frankly, knowing the charm of Quebec City, it would certainly be a tremendous environment in which to host a Winter Games," he said.

Vancouver will stage the 2010 Winter Olympics in February. The 2014 Winter Games will be held in Sochi, Russia.