Denver weighs bid to host Games
More than four decades after Denver became the only city to withdraw as an Olympic host after winning a bid, it is exploring whether to try again when many cities have decided it’s not worth it.
The original bid promised thousands more hotel rooms than existed and a cross-country ski course that looked good on paper but would have cut through people’s backyards.
The pitch worked, but after Denver won a bid to host the 1976 Winter Olympics, its plan unraveled amid questions about the environmental impact, ballooning costs and logistics of hosting such a big event in a quickly growing state.
The city again is growing, with low unemployment and a booming economy, and this time has a bigger airport, light rail, more hotels, seven professional sports teams and multiple stadiums.
The Olympic exploratory committee convened by Mayor Michael Hancock — which includes leaders of companies such as Vail Resorts and Liberty Global, along with former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and ex-Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups — is mulling a privately funded Games, estimated to cost $2 billion, without any mega projects. Organizers say the strategy could leave the state even with a surplus to fund Interstate-70 improvements or other work.
Denver would face competition from Salt Lake City, which became the first U.S. city to announce its plans to bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics this month. Salt Lake said it could host without losing money, thanks to existing venues and its expertise in putting on the 2002 Olympics. Reno also is considering a bid. Ledecka welcomed home: Ester Ledecka received a hero’s welcome in Prague after winning an unprecedented Winter Olympics double in snowboarding and Alpine skiing.
“Ester, Ester,” chanted thousands of Czechs who braved freezing temperatures to see Ledecka at Prague’s picturesque Old Town Square on Monday.
Her victory in the super-G ranks among the unlikeliest in the history of skiing. She came from nowhere to beat a field that included Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Anna Veith.
Ledecka already had won snowboarding’s parallel giant slalom, and the part-time skier became the first athlete to compete in ski racing and snowboarding at the Winter Games. When asked what has changed for her after her Olympic success in Pyeongchang, she replied: “I remain the same. It’s all about just the two medals around my neck and so many of you are here.” Anthem won’t hurt Russia’s return: Russia’s imminent return from a doping suspension won’t be derailed because its hockey players sang their national anthem, the International Olympic Committee said.
The Russian men’s team defied IOC rules by belting out the anthem at their medal ceremony following Sunday’s 4-3 overtime win against Germany in the goldmedal game. Russian fans at the match also sang along.
“We understand that this was over excitement by the athletes who had just won a gold medal in extraordinary circumstances,” the IOC said.
Players on the Russian team said they agreed before the game that they would sing the anthem.