In the ongoing efforts to promote Reno-Tahoe and Nevada as a world-class sports tourism destination and to support the athletic efforts of our region’s fifteen Olympians competing in the Winter Games, the RTWGC’s Vice Chair, Hawley MacLean and Executive board member, Jill Savery, are in Sochi this week. Jill, fresh off her recent duties as the Chief of Sustainability for the America’s Cup in San Francisco, will be blogging about their experience and for those of you who know Hawley; you’ll see some of his latest efforts as an accomplished photographer. Following is Jill’s latest submission:
More from Sochi
By Jill Savery, RTWGC Executive board Member
USA House is a hospitality and family/friends venue operated and organized by the US Olympic Committee (USOC). Several National Olympic Committees host these venues, such as Japan and Canada. It is a place where athletes can meet with their families, where Olympians and Paralympians from previous Games can meet, and where special guests, sponsors and friends can gather and watch the events on TV. We spent much of the day at USA House yesterday and were there to see President Putin’s visit. Story by USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/sochi/2014/02/14/vladimir-putin-team-usa-united-states-olympics/5479173/). There was quite a bit of security. He met with the USOC’s President and CEO, as well as the NBC Olympics President.
We saw and spoke to other athletes, such as speed skaters Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen , short track speed skater Apolo Ohno, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, and 2014 Olympians from the men’s hockey team, women’s curling team, Nordic combined, and bronze medalist Erin Hamlin – the first US athlete to medal in an individual luge event! It is so exciting to see these athletes and their families – their accomplishments and dedication are so inspiring.
We also met with the USOC as well as former IOC President Jacques Rogge, and reiterated our commitment to promoting Olympic sports in the Reno/Tahoe region and Nevada. They were pleased to see us in Sochi, and are very happy with our continued support and passion for sport. The international curling delegations are still talking about the successful 2014 WFG Continental Cup of Curling hosted by the Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition in Las Vegas in January.
