Vienna considers bid for 2028 Summer Olympics

VIENNA (AP) - Vienna is considering a bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics, but will need approval of its residents before going ahead.

The city council of Vienna says the possible Olympic bid will be one of the issues in a March 2013 referendum, in which more than 1.1 million residents will be eligible to vote.

Vienna Mayor Michael Haeupl tells national broadcaster ORF on Friday that the Olympics would have "enormous impetus for economy, labor market and urban development'' as well as "huge advertising impact.''

The referendum is non-binding, though Haeupl says the city council wants "to take decisions which are supported by as many people as possible.''

Vienna was a candidate for the 1964 Summer Olympics, which were awarded to Tokyo. Austria hosted the Winter Olympics that year, and again in 1976, in Innsbruck.