News -- Reno-Tahoe bid for Winter Olympics pushed back

Monday, Aug. 10, 2009

By Sports Network - The Sports Network

The United States Olympic Committee deflected media reports that other American cities are hopeful to put forward efforts to land future Olympics by saying its main focus was to have Chicago host the 2016 Summer Games.

"While it is always encouraging to see enthusiasm for the Olympic Movement, the USOC has been on record for more than two years in proclaiming that there will be absolutely no consideration of any future bids - winter or summer - from the U.S. while Chicago is on the international stage," said USOC CEO Stephanie Streeter.

"Let me reiterate that position in the most adamant terms. Chicago is not only our current bid city, it is our only bid city, and it is the sole focus of our efforts," she said. "We are now 52 days from the decision on the 2016 host city. All of our hopes and dreams for bringing the Olympic Games back to the United States are anchored in Chicago 2016 and the IOC decision on October 2."

U.S. Olympic Committee leaders have reiterated their support for Chicago's bid to land the 2016 Olympics, saying it is the federation's sole focus.

USOC CEO Stephanie Streeter released a statement Monday in the wake of recent reports that Pittsburgh might explore a bid for the 2020 Summer Games.

Also, the deadline for submitting formal proposals for the 2018 Winter Olympics is in October, and cities such as Denver and Reno, Nev., have been mentioned in the past as possible candidates.

Bid process gets underway for 2018 Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee launched the bid process for the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in 2018 on Friday.

Potential host cities will have to submit bids for the games by October 15, 2009, and the IOC will decide by the end of June, 2010 which bids have been accepted.

Over the following year, the IOC Evaluation Committee will assess each bid and decide on a host city on July 6, 2011 in Durban.

USOC closer to staying in Colorado Springs

The U.S. Olympic Committee moved closer to keeping its headquarters in Colorado Springs on Thursday when the board signed off on revised terms of a deal with the city.

The board agreed to give the USOC management team permission to extend its commitment to stay in Colorado Springs from 25 to 30 years in exchange for having the city take responsibility for $16 million in improvements to the Olympic Training Center.

The $16 million is part of a $53 million agreement that also includes building a new USOC headquarters and new offices for a number of national governing bodies. The original deal fell apart when the lead developer dropped out.

IOC opens bidding for 2018 Winter Games host

The International Olympic Committee launched the search Friday to find a host for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The winning city will be chosen on July 6, 2011, by IOC members meeting in Durban, South Africa, according to a timetable published by the IOC on Friday.

Potential candidates include Annecy, France; Munich, Germany; and Pyeongchang, South Korea, which is entering for a third straight time.

USOC honors 2 Oklahoma training sites

What once was an empty ditch south of downtown Oklahoma City is now recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee as an official training site for rowing, canoeing and kayaking.

USOC acting CEO Stephanie Streeter announced Tuesday that the 2,000-meter race course and National High Performance Center along the Oklahoma River had received the designation.
The site hosted the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials for canoeing and kayaking.

While Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are finalists to host the 2016 Olympics, the deadline for cities to formally submit proposals to host the 2018 Winter Games is October 15.

"With less than two months to go before the IOC's decision in Copenhagen, two months in which it is essential for us to capture the attention of the global Olympic Family, it is equally essential that the USOC sustain a 110 percent focus on the needs of Chicago 2016," said Streeter. "So, with all due respect to those cities that are dreaming about one day bidding for the Games, now is not the time. This is Chicago's time."

Pyeongchang, South Korea; Munich, Germany; and Annecy, France; have been the cities confirming bids to host the 2018 Olympics. Denver, Reno-Lake Tahoe, and Salt Lake City previously announced interests in hosting the 2018 Winter Games, but those efforts have essentially been pushed to the 2022 Olympics.