Orlando will announce today that it is joining with
Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg in a bid for the 2012 Summer
Olympic Games, according to Spear & Lancaster of the ORLANDO
SENTINEL. A plan "now under discussion" would have the
Tampa Bay area hosting the opening and closing ceremonies
and "many of the events," while Orlando would host soccer
and basketball games in the Florida Citrus Bowl and Orlando
Arena, respectively. Orlando's support "marks a turnaround"
from the city's earlier stance, and Mayor Glenda Hood said
she agreed only after getting assurances that Orlando will
not have to help pay for the Games (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/17).
ARLINGTON BID AILING? Some Arlington (TX) city council
members said yesterday that they "are worried about the
progress" of the city's effort to mount a regional bid for
the 2012 Games. The council members said that they are
"frustrated" that the bid committee is "small and has no
athletes as members, that no funds have been raised and that
Dallas -- considered a crucial part of the bid -- still has
not joined the effort." Grady Hicks, who is heading the
Arlington Olympic effort, on the concerns: "I understand
where they're coming from. It's just a process that takes a
little time" (Mary Doclar, Ft. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/17).
