When it comes to venues, infrastructure and fans, officials say Houston has what it takes to become an Olympic city.
But we may have to wait decades before submitting another bid. Houston last mounted an effort to get the games in 2012.
Since the US Olympic Committee selected Los Angeles to become the nation's bid city for the 2024 Olympics, the earliest Houston could submit a bid would be for the 2032 games, according to Janis Schmees Burke of the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority.
"It's so far down the road, you don't know what the infrastructure looks like at the time or what the appetite is in the community," Burke said.
Pointing to major events like the Super Bowl and the Final Four, the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority says Houston would definitely be prepared to host an international gathering such as the Olympics.
"We certainly could do it," Burke said. "We are a world class city, we do mega events."
But given the high cost of such a major event, Burke says Houston may get more bang for its buck by hosting smaller events that generate international media coverage.
"We are known in the international community as a sports city,'" she said.
Houston is a U.S. Olympic partner city. It recently hosted the Junior Olympics and served as a processing center, hosting American athletes before they flew to Brazil.