Metro Sports Commission board of directors chairman Rob Cohen said Tuesday he would like Denver to be considered for the 2018 Winter Olympics, and to help that cause a community partnership was announced between the city and the United States Olympic Committee.
While the USOC is focused on deciding if it will have a bid city (Chicago, San Francisco or Los Angeles) for the 2016 Summer Olympics, USOC head Jim Scherr said Denver is one of four U.S. cities that have started the conversation about a potential bid for the 2018 Winter Games.
“It is not a decision for the city of Denver or the Metro Sports Commission to decide, it is up to the USOC,” Cohen said. “We have had an exploratory committee working for the last two years to bid on international events and once you get into that bidding game on the international level, you can’t but help to think about bidding in the future for the Olympics.
“So, if the USOC were to decide that they were to bid on the 2018 Olympics, of course we would like to be considered.”
The partnership announced Tuesday could help bring more events to Denver, along with more training facilities for elite athletes.
“Community partners are vitally important to help us achieve our mission of helping athletes achieve their dreams and to inspire our country and inspire the world in making the world a better and more peaceful place,” Scherr said.
The partnership is meant to be a beacon in development of more elite athletes in this community and to give them support.
“A lot of the athletes only get credit every two years or every four years, and what we want to do is to elevate these athletes so that they get the recognition they deserve on an ongoing basis,” Cohen said.
Brandon Meachum can be reached at 303-820-1720 or bmeachum@denverpost.com.
