The seventh Chicago Worldcon has just announced that only one bid has been received for Worldcon 2014, from organizers in London. There is still a ballot process, but London's bid would only be rejected if the voters at this year's Worldcon choose to do so. Upcoming bids for 2015 include bids from Spokane and Orlando, while bids for 2016 include Kansas City and Finland, with Japan and New York vying for 2107. Press release is below.

Chicago, Illinois, USA - Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction Convention, is pleased to announce the start of the process to select the host site for the 72nd Worldcon. The only bid to have formally filed by the deadline of March 2, 2012, is the London in 2014 bid, jointly chaired by Steve Cooper and Mike Scott. The bid proposes to host the Worldcon in London, England, from August 14 to August 18, 2014.

All Adult and Young Adult Attending and Supporting members of Chicon 7 are eligible to take part in the site selection process. Ballots may be submitted by postal mail or in person at the convention, up to the close of voting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 1, 2012. Chicon 7 is also looking into the option of online voting, which is now permitted for the first time under a constitutional amendment ratified at Renovation, the 2011 Worldcon. All ballots must be accompanied by an Advance Membership (Voting) fee of $40, which will automatically be converted to a Supporting membership in the 72nd Worldcon.

Full information on the site selection process will be published on the Chicon 7 website at www.chicon.org/site-selection.php over the coming weeks. A printed ballot will also be included in Chicon 7's Progress Report 4, which will be published in mid-April.

In accordance with the requirements of the World Science Fiction Society, the London in 2014 bid team has submitted an official bid filing package. This documentation can also be found on the Chicon 7 website at www.chicon.org/site-selection.php. The official website of the London in 2014 bid can be found at www.londonin2014.org.

For further information about the site selection process, write to siteselection@chicon.org.

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Chicon 7 is the 2012 World Science Fiction Convention ("Worldcon"). The first Worldcon occurred in New York City in 1939 and Worldcons have been held annually since then except for 1942-45 when there was no event due to World War II. Chicon 7's Guests of Honor are five-time Hugo winning author Mike Resnick, artist Rowena Morrill, art agent and collector Jane Frank, science fiction fan and former Worldcon chair Peggy Rae Sapienza, and astronaut Story Musgrave. Chicon 7's Toastmaster is John Scalzi.

For more details about the convention or to purchase memberships, visit www.chicon.org. Send press questions, or requests to be removed from the Chicon 7 press release mailing list, to press@chicon.org. Send general queries to info@chicon.org. "World Science Fiction Society," "WSFS," "World Science Fiction Convention," "Worldcon," "NASFiC," "Hugo Award," and the distinctive design of the Hugo Award Rocket are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.