Possible U.S. Bid Cities Pleased With IOC And USOC Agreement

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock released a joint statement Thursday. "We are very pleased the International Olympic Committee and U.S. Olympic Committee reached agreement on revenue sharing. This agreement is one step in a marathon toward a potential USOC bid for the return of the Olympics to U.S. soil. We remain interested in and continue to explore all of the issues relevant to Denver potentially submitting a bid if and when the time is right".

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado said the revenue-sharing agreement would help officials advance preparations for a possible Olympic bid with certainty that it can move forward.

Organizers of the Reno-Tahoe Winter Games Coalition say a new revenue-sharing agreement between the International and U.S. Olympic committees was critical to keeping alive their dream of hosting the Winter Games in 2022.

The Modesto Bee reports that Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association says it's one of the most important hurdles to clear in the bid to bring the Olympics back to Tahoe.

Andy Wirth, CEO of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, told the Reno Gazette-Journal there are still other variables in the mix, but its "nothing but positive" news and he's "thrilled".

Jeff Robbins, the Utah Sports Commission executive director and co-chairman of the Olympic Exploratory Committee said removing the uncertainty about whether a 2022 Winter Games bid was even possible is a welcome advance for Salt Lake City's Olympic boosters.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Robbins said if the committee encourages the state to oversee the launch of another bid - its report will be delivered in late June or early July - that will give Utah's Olympic backers time to try to persuade the USOC to submit Salt Lake City's name once again.

"They still really control the landscape of what a U.S. bid would be. After New York and Chicago (lost), the USOC won't go after Games again unless it has a good chance to win", said Robbins. "All the legacy events we've been working on certainly would be viewed as positive. Around the world, nobody has done as much with legacy as the state of Utah".