U.S. cities have until Thursday to submit $100,000
deposits required by the USOC enabling them to bid on the
2008 Olympic Games. In Colorado, Mike Spence writes USOC
officials are "encouraged by the number of interested
cities," but are "uncertain what course they will take."
(Colorado Springs GAZETTE TELEGRAPH, 4/28). Among a
sampling of cities interested.
SAN FRANCISCO: S.F. Mayor Willie Brown signed the
official application to allow the Bay Area to bid for the
2008 Summer Games, according to Edward Epstein in the S.F.
CHRONICLE. The $100,000 fee was assisted by Visa Int'l,
Pacific Telesis and TransAmerica Corp. each donating
$20,000. The bid is in the name of San Francisco, as USOC
rules permit only a single city to be named, but "planning
for the games envisions events being held all the way from
San Jose to Sacramento" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/30).
BALTIMORE: Mayor Kurt Schmoke said that "barring any
last-minute glitches," Baltimore will enter the competition
to host the 2008 Summer Games. Schmoke: "I've agreed that
we should participate in the process. I'm wholeheartedly in
support of making the application." MD Stadium Authority
Chair John Moag is "spearheading the city's bid." Moag
"declined to say" how funds were raised for the $100,000
application fee, other than to say it is not from public
sources" (Jon Morgan, Baltimore SUN, 4/30).
WASHINGTON DC: Several corporations throughout
metropolitan DC donated money to raise the $100,000
application fee, according to Thomas Heath of the WASHINGTON
POST. Although both Washington and Baltimore are hoping to
be the nominee, "each city wants the other to drop its bid
and join a regional effort" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/30).
CINCINNATI: Charlie Battle, former Managing Dir of
International Relations for ACOG, on whether the small
metropolitan area of Cincinnati will work against its bid:
"So many of (Atlanta's events) were so concentrated
downtown. The ideal would be to have four or five 'centers'
or 'pockets' of activity -- and then have a fairly central
area where you can consolidate the broadcast and press
people ... It may be that Cincinnati could fashion something
like that" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 4/30).
WHO ELSE IS IN: New York, Seattle and Houston also
submitted bids. In Orlando, Mayor Glenda Hood said she
won't submit a letter of intent and the bid fee for the 2008
Games. Hood: "There was not much community interest in it
from the beginning and nothing now. We're not in a position
to make a bid for the Olympics" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/30).
