GUATEMALA CITY — Chicago, you're up.

The International Olympic Committee asked Chicago and the other cities bidding for the 2016 Olympic Games not to send representatives to Guatemala so the focus would remain on Wednesday's vote for the 2014 Winter Olympic city.

Now that the IOC members have chosen Sochi, Russia, as 2014 host, the attention immediately shifts to a 2016 Games bid competition that ends Oct. 3, 2009 in Copenhagen.

The first question is what impact the Sochi victory could have on Chicago's bid.

"It can't hurt Chicago," IOC member Richard Pound of Canada said. "It illustrates even more now is America's time."

The Sochi effect depends on many factors, including whether one considers Sochi a truly European city and whether the IOC changes its rules to keep heads of state from imposing their presence on the bid process. The Sochi bid committee emphasized that the Black Sea resort is where "East meets West."

"I believe there should be some (continental) rotation, not a formal one, and America gives good Games," Pound said. "You can rely on them."

Sochi's triumph means St. Petersburg, Russia, will not bid for 2016. That leaves Madrid, an announced candidate, and possibly Rome and Prague as European bidders. After 2014, four of the previous six Summer and Winter Olympics will have been in Europe. Tokyo also is an announced candidate, and Rio de Janeiro has suggested strongly it will bid.

"I didn't expect 2016 to go to Europe," said IOC member Gerhard Heiberg of Norway.

Heiberg brought up the idea of a rules change when asked if what Russian President Vladimir Putin accomplished for Sochi meant a U.S. president would have to be engaged similarly in the Chicago bid.

"(Putin) had a strong presence," Heiberg said. "It means something to people."

Putin clearly played a substantial role in helping Sochi beat Pyeongchang, South Korea, 51-47 in the second round of secret ballots. Salzburg, Austria, was eliminated in the first round, when it had 25 votes to 34 for Sochi and 36 for Pyeongchang. A city needs a majority to win.

"It is very reassuring to the International Olympic Committee because it guarantees the support of public authorities in a country," IOC President Jacques Rogge said of Putin's role during his 36-hour visit to Guatemala. "Today a successful bid is a bid that entails a complete country."

"I think the entire audience here realized he is a statesman and a competitor," U.S. Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth said. "Everyone could see that effect."