Monte Carlo, Dec 10 (IANS): The International Olympic Committee (IOC) introduced a new bidding system as part of 40-point reform package, but IOC president Thomas Bach ruled out re-opening the 2022 Winter Games race after four of six bidding cities dropped out.

With an invitation phase being added to the reversed bidding system, IOC member Dick Pound suggested re-launch of the 2022 process since Beijing and Kazakhstan's Almaty are the only two candidate cities left, reports Xinhua.

"You have always an advantage if you stay in competition," Bach said. "You cannot win if you don't stay in the competition."

The four cities that dropped off their bids are Oslo, Stockholm, Poland's Krakow and Ukraine's Lviv.

Also the boss of the world's biggest multi-sport event's governing body said here Tuesday that the IOC will invite potential bidders for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games next month for a consultation.

"We intend to launch this invitation phase Jan 15 next year and contact all the national Olympic committees who are in discussion about a potential bid," he said.

Germany's Berlin or Hamburg, four cities from the US, Rome, Istanbul, Doha, Baku, Budapest, Paris and an African city might be aimed by the IOC's invitation.