Representatives from the three U.S. cities vying for the right to bid for the 2016 Olympics have been meeting this week with USOC chair Peter Ueberroth in Costa Mesa. But this morning's news out of S.F. –- that the 49ers are abandoning their negotiations with the city to construct a new stadium at Candlestick Point and are considering a move to Santa Clara –- means that the Olympic race has effectively narrowed to L.A. and Chicago.

Here's what Phil Matier and Andrew Ross wrote in today's San Francisco Chronicle:

"The announcement also apparently ends a possible bid by San Francisco to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, which would have been tied to the construction of a new stadium in San Francisco.

The timing of the 49ers' news means that even should some reconciliation between the city and the football team be reached, it might be too late to help the Olympic bid. San Francisco 2016 must submit its bid document, some 250-300 pages, by Jan. 22. The certainty of a bid's plans is one criterion the USOC will use in assessing it."

So, any U.S. Olympic bid for 2016 will come down to L.A. vs. Chicago. Hm, now that sounds familiar.