Denver to bid on the 2018 Olympics

November 28, 8:06 AMDenver Skiing Lifestyle ExaminerLisa Mercer

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In 1976, Denver became the first city in history to leave the Olympic Committee standing at the altar. The Mile-High City was actually awarded the bid, only to have the voters turn it down due to financial and environmental concerns.

Now, a 165-member contingent of Denver business and government leaders, which include  the governor of Colorado and the mayor of Denver, will be visiting Vancouver this week. The visit  is part of the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce's annual Leadership Exchange program. This year, the program will give organizers of a possible Denver Winter Games bid a chance to learn about what it would take to bring the Winter Games to Denver.

In March of 2009, Denver will host  SportAccord, which is a gathering of international sporting officials. Hopefully this will have a positive influence on Denver's bid. If Denver  does host the Winter Games, they would take place along the Front Range and in the mountain resorts. The ski area would need to  needed build nenues for ski jumping, speed skating, luge and Nordic skiing.

Of course, transportation to the resorts will be an issue. Given the normal back-ups on I 70 during ski season, one can only imagine the problems that may be assoicated with a Winter Olympics. Perhaps it's time to reconsider the idea of a monorail or train. Hopefully, if we do win this bid, people will make intelligent voting choices in the next election. The candidates who support more viable means of transportaion to the mountains can help make this bid a reality.

Governor Bill Ritter said that he would wait to see if Chicago were awarded the 2016 Games before making a decision.

"We'll wait and see what happens, whether Chicago gets the 2016 bid next October, but if they don't, then I'll be full-steam ahead with our efforts to get a 2018 bid for the Winter Olympics. "

John Furlong, chief executive of Vancouver 2010, said he will tell Denver officials  that "issues of logistics and financing should not take a back seat to broader aspects."

According to Furlong:

You want the Olympics to contribute to the city, but where it really contributes is to the human capital and as a nation builder. It has to be an event for everybody. You need to built unity around that vision and really make it shine out.