Updated

Colorado's governor and the mayor of Denver say they're pleased the International Olympic Committee and U.S. Olympic Committee have reached a revenue-sharing agreement.

In a joint statement issued Thursday, Gov. John Hickenlooper and Mayor Michael Hancock said the agreement is one step in a marathon toward a potential USOC bid for the return of the Olympics to U.S. soil.

Denver is among cities that have expressed early interest in bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Hickenlooper and Hancock said they continue to explore all of the issues relevant to Denver potentially submitting a bid, if and when the time is right.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado said the revenue-sharing agreement would help Denver officials advance preparations for a possible Olympic bid with certainty that it can move forward.