Posted Oct 30, 2018, 9:54 AM
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SALT LAKE CITY — It's make or break time for another Winter Games in Salt Lake City, with the U.S. Olympic Committee now expected to name an American bid city by the end of the year.
The USOC is set to pick between Salt Lake City, Denver and the Reno-Tahoe area as this country's candidate to host an as-yet unidentified future Winter Games that could be as soon as 2030......"We're just putting our heads down and doing the work," Biskupski said. She predicted Salt Lake would fare well in polling because "we have such a strong legacy that the support is there."
A poll in November 2017 found that 89 percent of Utahns wanted to bid for another Olympics...According to the minutes of their closed meeting, USOC board members discussed then what the process would look like to narrow the U.S. field. The mayor said Salt Lake only recently received word that a decision will be made before the year ends. But she said Utah is well-positioned in the competition to become America's choice for a future Winter Games...
Much of what is likely to be part the USOC questionnaire is already included in the Utah exploratory committee's 136-page report, that put the price tag for another Winter Games at just over $1.35 billion.
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That's less than the cost of hosting in 2002 because the bobsled, luge and skeleton track, ski jumps, speedskating oval and other pricey venues needed for a Winter Games are already in place and continue to be maintained.
The USOC's decision comes as the International Olympic Committee is considering Calgary, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden; and the combined Italian bid of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo for 2026, a choice that will be made next year.
Although Salt Lake was prepared to step up for those Winter Games, the USOC stayed out of running because Los Angeles is hosting the 2028 Summer Games and has locked up domestic sponsorships through that date. The IOC is expected to pick a host for 2030 in five years.
"I think by far our city is light-years ahead of the other cities that are looking at this as far as venues and as far as our investment in those venues," Biskupski said, crediting the Legislature's committment to invest $40 million to upgrade them.
Niederhauser said backers of another bid anticipated waiting longer for a decision from the USOC. "We thought we were going to be in limbo for a while. All of a sudden now we have an opportunity and we're going for it," he said. "I don't think the other cities can do what we can do in such a short time. That may be a little bit arrogant, but it's just the facts."
FILE - Fireworks explode during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games closing ceremony Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
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Last edited by delts145; Oct 30, 2018 at 10:14 AM.
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