An international dispute over revenue sharing is threatening to upset Colorado’s chances of landing the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, according to a report Tuesday in the
Denver Post.
The U.S. Olympic Committee pulled out of the bidding for the games just last week because of a bitter dispute with the International Olympic Committee, which is apparently demanding a larger cut of global sponsorship and U.S. broadcasting rights fees.
The decision comes at a difficult time for Denver and the state, according to the Post, because Gov. John Hickenlooper and Mayor Michael Hancock have begun talks about how to prepare and win the bid, which must be submitted by 2013.
The paper reported that boosters around the state have also been laying the groundwork for a bid for some time.
It hasn’t been easy because Colorado voters rejected the 1976 Olympic Games, after they had been awarded to Denver, out of concern that any cost overruns might have to be paid by taxpayers.
“This may be just coming up on people’s radar screens now, but we are not starting from scratch,” Rob Cohen, the founder of the Denver Metro Sports Commission, told the Post. “Our goal for the last couple of years is to put Denver in consideration. I think we have definitely done that. Now it’s up to the governor and mayor and community as a whole.”
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