Gov. John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock this morning announced the formation of an exploratory committee to pursue a future Winter Olympic Games for Colorado.
“The opportunity to pursue the Games is an endeavor worth taking very seriously,” Hickenlooper said in a joint release from the two governments. “We’ve asked this exploratory committee to explore all issues relevant to Denver potentially submitting a bid to the USOC. Those issues include making certain any bid would be financially sound and will help economic growth in the state. We would also want to find ways to showcase Colorado as the healthiest state in the nation for work and play no matter of a bid’s outcome.”
The most likely games Colorado would pursue would take place in 2022. Reno/Tahoe, Nev. has already announced that they will also pursue those games.
The United States Olympic Committee, which would choose a host city from this nation to make a bid, has said repeatedly that they will not consider a U.S. bid for the games until issues over television revenues are settled with the International Olympic Committee. Those negotiations are underway.
“We are aware Denver is forming an exploratory committee to look at the possibility of a bid for an Olympic Winter Games,” said Patrick Sandusky, Chief Communications Officer for the USOC, also in the joint statement. “As we have stated to Denver and other interested cities, the USOC is not focused on bids at this time.”
Here are the appointees to the exploratory committee:
Ernie Blake, former Mayor of Breckenridge
Jeremy Bloom, Olympian
Kelly Brough, CEO, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
KieAnn Brownell, Denver Sports Commission
Cedric Buchanon, City President, BBVA Compass
Mario Carrera, VP for Colorado Markets, Entravision Communications
Rob Cohen, CEO, IMA Financial Group
Tami Door, CEO, Downtown Denver Partnership
Steve Farber, Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Cole Finegan, Partner, Hogan Lovells
Harry Frampton, Chairman, Vail Valley Foundation
LaCharles Keesee, Senior Advisor to the Mayor, Office of Mayor Michael Hancock
Ken Lund, Executive Director, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Steve McConahey, Chairman, SGM Capital
Chris Osborn, Chairman of the Board, Poudre Valley Health System
Christine Riordan, Dean, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver
Richard Scharf, CEO, Visit Denver
Hon. Elbra Wedgeworth, Chief Government and Community Relations Officer, Denver Health
Sara Will, Paralympian
Richard Young, Partner, Holme Roberts & Owen
