Should Denver bid for Winter Olympics? Exploratory committee seeks input

Denver is moving one step closer to a making a possible bid for the Winter Olympics. The exploratory committee will hold a webinar Thursday night.

The exploratory committee who is putting together the possible bid wants citizens to give their input.

In 1970, Denver was awarded the 1976 Olympics, but voters in 1972 rejected a $5 million bond issue to help finance the Games.

According to KDVR, Denver is working on a very tight timetable to make a bid. Salt Lake City and Reno, Nevada have also expressed interest in hosting the Games.

The U.S. Olympic Committee is expected to decide by next month whether it wants to get the Winter Olympics for 2026 or 2030.

The plan is to privately fund the event with no taxpayer dollars. Committee members believe Denver could stand a pretty good chance of landing the Games.

“We have a lot of ice rinks all around the state,” said Richard Scharf with Visit Denver. “First Bank, Magness, Pepsi Center. We have a lot of ski resorts that are used to handling international events.

“This is a long-term economic play for Denver. In Salt Lake City, they made a $90 billion legacy, made a surplus over their budget. They are bidding again. Must be something good about the Olympics.”

The last Winter Olympics in the U.S. were in Salt Lake City in 2002. Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics in 2028.

The online webinar will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.