By now you all know that Houston has been passed over as the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The U.S. Olympic Committee had the choice between Houston, San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C. to be America's candidate for the 2012 Games.

Since July, there have been rumors that Houston was going to be cut when the USOC narrowed the field to two U.S. cities. So, when San Francisco and New York were picked as the American finalists, no one was surprised.

Even though the Houston Committee had earmarked $1.3 billion for making Houston Olympic ready, there were constant questions about Houston's lack of city-wide transportation and its ability to house the thousands of people that come along with the Summer Games.

Considering that New York will have to spend nearly $4 billion in construction costs, Houston seems like a much more economical choice.

The one issue that has gotten the most attention, though, is the idea that Houston doesn't have enough international appeal to be a host city.

Although San Francisco and Washington, D.C. are huge tourist draws and New York is one of the most recognizable cities in the world, I think that Houston can keep pace with all three. With its cultural diversity and growing population, Houston has as much international appeal as any city in the United States.

The USOC thought that Houston didn't have what it takes to compete with Paris, Toronto and Rome, some of the international candidates vying for the 2012 Games. The committee decided to go with cities that, in their opinion, gave America a better chance of winning the bid. I think they are greatly underestimating the charm and ability of the Bayou City.

Houston is widely known around the world as being the world's energy capital, the world leader in space exploration and research and as the largest medical center in the world.

Houston's population is just as diverse. The citizens of Houston speak more than 90 languages. Houston also houses 76 consulates, showing just how international our city is. The infrastructure of Houston also makes it a perfect Olympic host city.

Most of the venues required for the Games are already built, including the Compaq Center, Reliant Astrodome, Minute Maid Park and Reliant Stadium. These venues are also air conditioned, which is a must for a Houston summer. The USOC obviously didn't understand what kind of city Houston is.

If the committee had seen even a fraction of what Houstonians see every day, they would have realized that Houston is the quintessential Olympic city. Maybe they were just afraid of the heat.

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