"The Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) Executive Bureau decided that the capital city of Sofia will not bid to host the Games in 2016," the BOC said in a statement today.

The bid had first been proposed during a visit to Bulgaria in January 2009 by IOC President Jacques Rogge, who discussed the idea with Sofia Mayor Boyko Borisov.

Rogge had claimed that he was impressed with the Bulgarian capital's infrastructure during the visit.

Borisov had promised that Sofia, which is located at the foot of Mount Vitosha, would do everything it could to assist a bid, including introducing special legislation.

A decision on which city will host the 2016 Youth Olympics is due to be made by the IOC in 2012.

Other cities expected to bid are Lucerne in Switzerland and Zaragoza in Spain while Lake Placid, which hosted the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, may also put themselves forward.

Sofia had previously bid for the 1992, 1994 and 2014 Winter Olympics but made little impression during each campaign, failing to make the short list on the last occasion when the Games were awarded to Sochi.

Nevertheless the BOC said that it planned to launch a bid for the 2020 Youth Winter Olympic Games.

Innsbruck is due host the inaugural Youth Winter Olympic Games in 2012.

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